My son could not have gotten through the end of his chemo treatments without Heidi. She provided extraordinary care throughout, but what stood out was how well she knew him—not just as a patient, but as a person. He was desperate to stay on schedule so he could go back to college in time for the next semester, and she knew how important that schedule was to him. One day, Adam was restless and not feeling well, and Heidi noticed the difference. He didn’t want to admit he didn’t feel well since he was afraid they wouldn’t give him chemo. Rather than assuming the chemotherapy had simply become too difficult for him to continue, Heidi trusted her instincts. Without mentioning it, she reviewed his medical records for the past three months and discovered that the day before, he was given a harsh steroid as a premed that was on his chart in case he needed it, but was not normally given to him.

Her diligence, knowledge, and advocacy made all the difference—she identified the change causing his reaction, spoke with his doctor, and ensured it did not delay his chemo. We found Heidi’s compassion and commitment went far beyond routine care. She listened, paid attention to details others might miss, and made us feel seen and supported as a family. Heidi embodies the true spirit of the DAISY Award through her combination of empathy, excellence, and unwavering dedication to her patients.