I would like to nominate Christina Hudson for the DAISY Award at Ball Memorial Hospital. Christina is an incredible Labor and Delivery nurse who demonstrates extraordinary compassion, empathy, and support as a Registered Nurse.

I first met Christina during the birth of my second child, K. My second pregnancy was one filled with excitement and joy that changed to uncertainty and heartbreak after we learned that K had Trisomy 18, a genetic condition that often ends in the death of a child before birth or a short life filled with challenges. Walking into the hospital for my induction was one of the most difficult days of my life. From the moment Christina entered the room, she treated our situation with deep sensitivity and compassion. She recognized that this labor and delivery would be unlike the joyful deliveries many families experience. This delivery would be filled with unknowns about what would occur. Christina met us exactly where we were emotionally, in our joy and grief. She spoke gently, listened without judgment, and honored the love we had for K. She helped create a space where our child’s life—no matter how brief—was treated with dignity and profound respect. Her empathy during that delivery is something I will never forget. From that first meeting, Christina became part of our family and K’s Crew.

During K’s short life, I found comfort in the scripture Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The experience of delivering a child with a life-limiting diagnosis leaves a lasting imprint on a parent’s heart. There are moments of anxiety, joy, and also profound grief. This is also true with every pregnancy and delivery after infant loss, and these moments come with layers of memories of that loss. So when we were informed that I had Polyhydramnios during my fourth and most recent pregnancy, you can imagine where my mind went.

What makes Christina truly extraordinary is that she remembered our story and immediately provided the care, understanding, and compassion my family and I needed during this delivery. When Christina cared for me again during the birth of my fourth child, her presence immediately brought comfort. She understood my emotional weight, without me needing to explain. She acknowledged my fears, reassured me with kindness, and created a calm, supportive environment during a moment that could have easily been overwhelming. Christina’s empathy extended not only to the clinical care she provided but also to the emotional care she offered. Christina has a rare and beautiful ability to care for the whole patient and family, not just the medical situation in front of her. She recognizes that birth stories are deeply personal and that some are shaped by grief as much as joy. Because of Christina, one of the hardest moments of my life was met with love and compassion, and the births that followed were supported with understanding and reassurance.

Nurses like Christina do more than provide medical care—they carry families through some of the most meaningful and vulnerable moments of their lives. I will always be grateful for the kindness she showed during the birth of my child with Trisomy 18 and for the continued empathy she demonstrated during the births of K, my third child, and K, my fourth. She embodies everything the DAISY Award represents: clinical excellence, extraordinary compassion, and a profound commitment to the patients and families she serves.