Ariel made an incredible difference in a patient's care during a very difficult and stressful hospitalization. This patient had been in the hospital for several weeks and knew she would not be able to return home for at least a few more weeks because she was being discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. While she was worried about her own health and recovery, what weighed on her the most was concern for her pets.

She had several cats at home and no one available to care for them. Her family lives out of state and was unable to come help, and none of her friends were able to take them in. The uncertainty of not knowing what would happen to her pets caused her significant stress and anxiety and made an already challenging situation even more overwhelming.

When Ariel was her nurse, he took the time to truly listen and recognize how much this was affecting her emotional well-being. He didn't dismiss her concerns or rush through the interaction- instead, he showed genuine compassion. Ariel took it upon himself to look up and provide her with the phone number for the ASPCA and a local rescue agency so she could explore options to keep her pets safe.

Because of Ariel's kindness and initiative, the patient was able to call and make arrangements for her cats to be rescued. Knowing that her pets would be safe brought her immense relief and peace of mind, allowing her to finally focus on her own healing and recovery.

What Ariel did may have only taken a few extra minutes of his day, but it meant everything to this patient. His actions went far beyond routine nursing care-he cared for her as a whole person. Ariel exemplifies the compassion, advocacy, and heart of nursing, and he is truly deserving of recognition through the DAISY award.