During my child's cancer journey, we have isolated to protect her health. This has led to many restrictions on our daily life and sorrow in that our young daughter is missing out on everyday life experiences. The one thing she loves to do and that I, as a mother, can provide is taking her outside. She loves walks in her wagon, on her push trike, or lounging in her stroller.

Being admitted to PICU can be a scary time and does not always allow me, as a mother, to provide the comforts of home to a child under two just barely understanding what life means. A couple days before a life altering surgery, my daughter was healthy enough to make rounds in her wagon and with her oxygen tank around the PICU South floor. To say that this was the highlight of her day is an understatement as she kept signing "more" in ASL and blowing kisses to everyone we passed. She perfected her princess wave and lit up once a day when we mentioned the word "out" and could not say her precious "yesh" fast enough.

None of this would have been possible without this nurse. Our nurse, who learned my daughter and her preferences, naturally praised her intelligence, and let her be a "helper" in her own healthcare. We, as parents, were able to trust and begin to depend on this nurse during a time that was quite fatiguing for us parents of a cancer warrior. The day before her surgery, our daughter was still healthy enough to truly go outside and point at the koi, watch the birds, and track the squirrels that ran up the trees. I watched on her portable monitor as her vitals moved to the best they had been all week. I saw the curiosity and life in her eyes reflected as she took in the nature and flowers around her.

This nurse not only provided superb health care, she tended to my daughter's soul. The impact that this nurse has had on all our lives cannot be understated. Giving our little girl the gift of outside after almost a month inpatient and before the day of a surgery that would lead to life altering complications is something we will never forget. She has gone above and beyond her role as nurse and truly defined what it means to be someone who makes a difference.

Though our daughter at such a tender age may never remember this nurse, my husband and I will hold her in the highest regard for as long as we live. We would be honored if she were able to be acknowledged as a nurse who illustrates what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.