According to the DAISY Award website, to be eligible for this award, a nurse must go above and beyond to not only provide patients and families with excellence in clinical care but also compassion. Nurse Laurie P from the Trauma department meets this criteria and so much more. A few weeks ago, my daughter and I were fortunate enough to have a chance encounter with Laurie in an elevator near the pediatric department. My daughter has been undergoing cancer treatments for the last few months. Upon entering the elevator, my daughter noticed Laurie and told her what beautiful hair she had. Laurie graciously said thank you and proceeded to tell my daughter a story about her own Mother and her hair. Watching their interaction was such a joy. Since my daughter received her diagnosis, she has become very shy and withdrawn around new people. Laurie and I spoke for a few minutes. We discussed hair donation foundations. She was such a wealth of knowledge. She disclosed that she has been growing and donating her hair since childhood. We then left the hospital.

Since that interaction, my daughter has talked nonstop about Laurie and her “beautiful hair”. I reached out to the foundation that Laurie had recommended to see about the steps needed to get a hair “crown” for my daughter. Upon calling and giving information, I was notified that a donation of hair had been made in honor of my daughter by Nurse Laurie. I do not have adequate words to describe how very grateful my family is for that one simple interaction. Laurie has never been my daughter's nurse, but after just one short interaction, she did something so monumental for her. With her donation, Laurie has done something amazing for my daughter. She gave my daughter hope. Laurie, you are an exceptional human being. Thank you, God, for bringing her into our lives.