Abigail Russell
March 2026
Abigail
Russell
,
BSN, RN
Pediatrics
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church
,
VA
United States
She helped my son see that this diagnosis does not define him.
I would like to nominate Abby for the DAISY Award for the exceptional care she provided to my son, J, during one of the hardest weeks of our lives.
J was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this past week, and everything felt overwhelming and frightening. From the very first day, Abby was there. Not just physically present, but truly there — steady, patient, and compassionate. She cared for us every single day of our stay, and her consistency alone brought comfort in a time filled with uncertainty.
Abby has a calmness about her that cannot be taught. No matter how many questions we asked — and we asked a lot — she never rushed us. She stood with us, explained things clearly, and made sure we understood. She treated every concern as important. As parents trying to process a life-changing diagnosis, that meant everything.
What stood out most was how she cared for J as a whole person, not just a patient. She engaged with him in ways that made him feel safe — talking with him about his stuffed animals, noticing his blanket, and meeting him at his level. She encouraged him in moments when he felt unsure. When he gave himself his first finger prick, she told him he could do anything he wanted to do. She was genuinely impressed with his bravery, and you could see how proud she was of him. That encouragement helped him believe in himself.
Abby didn’t just provide medical care — she gave our family confidence. She helped turn fear into strength. She helped my son see that this diagnosis does not define him. Because of her, we left the hospital feeling capable instead of defeated.
There truly aren’t enough words to describe how much her kindness, patience, and presence meant to us. She is an amazing human being, and I wish there were more people in the world like her. I am so grateful that she was our nurse during such a pivotal moment in our son’s life.
Abby is everything the DAISY Award represents, and I wholeheartedly nominate her with deep gratitude and admiration.
Abby was special to us in a way that is hard to fully put into words.
This week was already emotionally heavy for me. It was my dad’s birthday, and the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing five years ago was the day before J was diagnosed. It’s always a tender time of year, and walking into the hospital with my child facing a life-changing diagnosis felt like an added layer of pressure and heartbreak.
But from the moment we walked in, Abby changed the atmosphere.
She told us she had been waiting for him, and when J walked in, he smiled. In the middle of fear and uncertainty, she created warmth. She made a clinical hospital room feel safe. She made a terrifying diagnosis feel manageable.
I know she has likely cared for hundreds — maybe thousands — of children with new diagnoses. But she never made us feel like “just another case.” She connected with us in a way that felt deeply personal. She felt like family. Her presence was steady and reassuring, and I never once felt like a burden — even if I needed to call her multiple times or ask the same question again.
She carried us through one of the hardest weeks of our lives with grace. Her kindness didn’t feel procedural. It felt genuine. It felt intentional. It felt like she was exactly who we were meant to have during that moment.
To me, she truly felt like an angel sent at just the right time — and because of her, one of the hardest weeks of our lives will always be remembered with gratitude instead of fear.
J was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this past week, and everything felt overwhelming and frightening. From the very first day, Abby was there. Not just physically present, but truly there — steady, patient, and compassionate. She cared for us every single day of our stay, and her consistency alone brought comfort in a time filled with uncertainty.
Abby has a calmness about her that cannot be taught. No matter how many questions we asked — and we asked a lot — she never rushed us. She stood with us, explained things clearly, and made sure we understood. She treated every concern as important. As parents trying to process a life-changing diagnosis, that meant everything.
What stood out most was how she cared for J as a whole person, not just a patient. She engaged with him in ways that made him feel safe — talking with him about his stuffed animals, noticing his blanket, and meeting him at his level. She encouraged him in moments when he felt unsure. When he gave himself his first finger prick, she told him he could do anything he wanted to do. She was genuinely impressed with his bravery, and you could see how proud she was of him. That encouragement helped him believe in himself.
Abby didn’t just provide medical care — she gave our family confidence. She helped turn fear into strength. She helped my son see that this diagnosis does not define him. Because of her, we left the hospital feeling capable instead of defeated.
There truly aren’t enough words to describe how much her kindness, patience, and presence meant to us. She is an amazing human being, and I wish there were more people in the world like her. I am so grateful that she was our nurse during such a pivotal moment in our son’s life.
Abby is everything the DAISY Award represents, and I wholeheartedly nominate her with deep gratitude and admiration.
Abby was special to us in a way that is hard to fully put into words.
This week was already emotionally heavy for me. It was my dad’s birthday, and the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing five years ago was the day before J was diagnosed. It’s always a tender time of year, and walking into the hospital with my child facing a life-changing diagnosis felt like an added layer of pressure and heartbreak.
But from the moment we walked in, Abby changed the atmosphere.
She told us she had been waiting for him, and when J walked in, he smiled. In the middle of fear and uncertainty, she created warmth. She made a clinical hospital room feel safe. She made a terrifying diagnosis feel manageable.
I know she has likely cared for hundreds — maybe thousands — of children with new diagnoses. But she never made us feel like “just another case.” She connected with us in a way that felt deeply personal. She felt like family. Her presence was steady and reassuring, and I never once felt like a burden — even if I needed to call her multiple times or ask the same question again.
She carried us through one of the hardest weeks of our lives with grace. Her kindness didn’t feel procedural. It felt genuine. It felt intentional. It felt like she was exactly who we were meant to have during that moment.
To me, she truly felt like an angel sent at just the right time — and because of her, one of the hardest weeks of our lives will always be remembered with gratitude instead of fear.