I want to nominate Morgan Ryalls for the extraordinary and compassionate care she provided to my son, D, as he died after a heroic and lifetime battle with cystic fibrosis. This nomination has been a long time coming. I have been devastated by grief from the loss of my son, and it has been hard for me to come back and revisit the months, weeks, days, minutes, and moments leading up to his death on 3 Central with Morgan being the angel by his side, to write this nomination. Morgan was grace under fire. Her calm, beautiful presence soothed my son, and he knew he was in good hands. He was always visibly relieved when Morgan walked into his room, announcing she would be his nurse for the day. I was impressed by Morgan’s gentle compassion, knowledge, and her tireless advocacy for my son, who needed so much pain control and tender care to keep him comfortable at the end of his life. Daniel had made a decision to forgo medical intervention, and he wanted comfort care only. There would be no lung transplant, no intubation, no BiPAP, and no transfer to the MICU for a last hurrah. He wanted to go in peace, and he wanted to die at home.

We made arrangements with hospice for all the necessary equipment to bring him home to die; however, the day before he was to come home, D took a turn for the worse, and he was too unstable for the short transport to our house. D would have to die in the hospital. The hospital was often like a second home to D. Although he disliked being in the hospital, once he felt better, he would often enjoy the social aspect of interacting with the staff members, most of whom were his own age. I will never ever forget the compassion that the staff at UVA has shown my son over the years and throughout his life. Housekeepers, dietary staff, as well as all the nurses, RTs, residents, and attendings have shown my son kindness and compassion throughout his life, and it has meant a great deal to me. I will never forget the day, years ago, as I sat in my son‘s hospital room, a dietary aide delivered his meal tray, she looked at my son and said “I see that you’re in here often I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I want you to know I am praying for you.” I have never forgotten that moment or the kindness and love this person showed my son.

As much as I was disappointed that my son could not die in the comfort of our home, I knew he would be well taken care of. On the last day of my son’s life, Morgan had a new nurse orienting with her. She had to walk this brand-new nurse through the process of putting an indwelling Foley catheter into my son to relieve the pressure on his bladder. I couldn’t believe how calmly Morgan walked this new nurse through the process of inserting a Foley catheter in a dying patient, while his mother, an experienced nurse, sat nearby. I was so impressed. Morgan not only cared for my son, but she also cared for me. I was absolutely exhausted and devastated. My son had been hospitalized from most of April until his death in August. Throughout those 5 months, D came home from the hospital several times, only to be readmitted a week or two later. I was trying to work some in the NICU because I knew this was going to be a long process, and I had already used so much FMLA. As I sat with my son to comfort him, I remember not being able to stop crying. I will never forget Morgan’s compassion. It is of utmost importance to me, and in memory of my son, to recognize Morgan as a Nurse who embodies everything the DAISY award represents.