I am nominating James for the DAISY Award because of his dedication and wonderful character. My son D was a patient at the Neuro ICU at UNC Hospitals. All of the RNs that treated him were amazing. D is 31 and lives with mild developmental delays. As soon as James entered our room, I knew he was special. He made such an effort to meet D where he is and found a wonderful connection. They talked about video games, football, and hockey.

When James would ask a question he would sit next to D and wait as long as needed for him to answer. And being in a scary environment after having surgery made D even more nervous and uncomfortable. James took away his anxiety. I watched my son smile for the first time when James cracked a joke. I saw D trust him to care and make the best decisions. James sat on the chair next to the bed and looked at D man to man and had conversations. I worked in healthcare for a very long time. I know how busy an RN's job is. So for James to take time to fully understand his patient is even more remarkable. It wasn’t just once, it was time after time. He could have just asked me all of the questions, after all, it would've been easier and faster for him. He chose to put D's feelings and health above everything else.

At the same time, he made me feel comfortable and heard as a mom. I can't put into words how much James meant to us. Sometimes people who have special needs are overlooked. James showed D he matters and that what he has to say is important and valuable. From the silly accents to the fist bumps, the "Hey chief!" and the thoughtful stories. That day, D was treated with dignity, patience, kindness, and care. We will never forget meeting James. I will never forget the way he made D feel.