I am honored to nominate Susan, and I see you at Ascension Providence Hospital, for the DAISY Award in recognition of the exceptional care she provides to my wife, A, and the immense support she extended to my family during a time of unimaginable difficulty.

When my wife suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, Susan was not just a nurse. She became a guiding light for me through one of the hardest experiences of my life. From the moment she took care of A’s care, she ensured that I was never left in the dark about what was happening. She patiently and clearly explained every step of A’s treatment, particularly the hypothermia protocol, using diagrams on a whiteboard to illustrate complex medical concepts in a way I could understand. Her ability to balance professionalism with empathy was remarkable. While she was encouraging and supportive, she was also honest and realistic about the potential outcomes, something I deeply respect and appreciate.

As A began to show signs of waking, Susan was meticulously attentive to her vitals and her response to stimuli. She monitors every reaction with care and provides comfort in moments of distress, ensuring A’s well-being every step of the way. Throughout this process, Susan’s calm, professional, matter-of-fact approach helped all of us find stability in an incredibly uncertain time. Despite the high-stakes nature of the ICU care, she never let the stress of the environment affect the genuine compassion she extended to both A and our family.

Well, A may not fully remember Susan‘s will, her recovery, but my family and I will never forget her. Her knowledge, skill, and unwavering kindness brought us comfort and clarity, which is what we needed most. It was because of extraordinary nurses like Susan that families like ours make it through the toughest moments.