I am the grandfather of a newborn baby girl who was cared for in the Medical City Children's Hospital NICU in mid July after suffering devastating neurologic complications during delivery at an outside facility. She died 4d later. I'm a physician who has been in healthcare for almost 40yrs, and have worked with innumerable nurses during that time. Never have I been as impressed by a nurse as I was at your facility.

Despite the very intense and tragic situation, I can't express how impressed I and our entire family was with the nursing care that we received during this brief stay. All of the nurses were remarkable, and the whole unit was extremely impressive. However, we had the very good fortune of having been cared for for several days by Katie Amsbaugh, RN.

Katie was such an incredible mix of experience, skill, caring and compassion, that I will forever remember her care and treasure the opportunity to have known her and seen here in action, and to have her minister to my granddaughter and us all. Some or all of the four grandparents and my son were on the unit pretty much at all times during the stay, while the mother recovered from her cesarean section at the other hospital until she was able to visit too. We had Katie for many of the shifts. She was so incredibly patient with us, nurturing the entire family, not just little granddaughter.

Katie showed incredible kindness, confidence, patience and wisdom. She clearly had been through a great many tragedies such as this, yet never seemed hardened or insensitive. Rather, she was so very open and kind. She was full of wonderful advice, guidance, and compassion. She helped all of us, but especially the parents by helping them spend precious time with my granddaughter, loving and caring for her, but also mourning her impending passing. Katie was so very tender with my granddaughter, and had such a profound sense of respect and dignity for her while alive, and especially after her passing, as she worked with the family to bathe and care for and prepare my granddaughter's body.

Our other daughter-in-law is a nurse in Florida, and has been the recipient of the DAISY Award at her hospital. I know how very significant this Award is, and how special the nurses are who are nominated and especially those who receive the Award. I don't take this nomination lightly, as I have such a great respect for nurses and nurse leadership.

In memory of my granddaughter and in honor of both Katie Amsbaugh, RN and Karly Matthews, RN, our family has endowed a scholarship fund at the Nell Woodruff Hodgson School of Nursing at Emory University to support nursing students who have the aptitude and passion for nursing, but may not have necessary resources, and/or continue nursing education for ongoing nursing knowledge throughout the career of nurses. This scholarship fund and this nomination are such incredibly small and inadequate ways to express our profound appreciation for the outstanding care all of us received at your institution. Thank you so much for leaving us with such positive memories despite such a devastating and heartbreaking situation.