Being the mom of a sick child is terrifying. Being a nurse and knowing exactly what could be happening makes it even harder.

I brought my extremely sick daughter to the Emergency Department, and I was more scared than I have ever been in my life.

From the moment she was brought back to a room, we met her nurse, Staci. My daughter’s pain and anxiety were incredibly high, and I’m sure I was giving off strong mama bear energy. Despite that, Staci remained calm, confident, and reassuring in a way that immediately made us feel safe.

Staci treated my daughter as if she were her own family. She took the time to explain everything in a way my daughter could understand while also respecting her wishes to avoid too much detail due to her fear of needles.

She managed my daughter’s pain not only with medication, but with kindness, conversation, humor, and compassion. She joked with her, distracted her, held her hand during the hardest moments, and continuously reassured her when things felt overwhelming.

As a nurse myself, I asked a million questions. Not once did Staci make me feel like I was in the way, difficult, or annoying. Instead, she welcomed my questions and supported me just as much as she supported my daughter.

She was the calm in my incredibly chaotic storm. Because of her, I felt safe enough to step away for a few moments and let myself cry, knowing my daughter was in the best possible hands.

Staci turned one of the scariest moments of my life into something far less frightening. She was exactly the nurse my daughter and I needed, and I could not have asked for anyone better.

Although Staci is currently working on contract, I want her to know that she made an enormous difference in our lives. Nurses like her are the reason families feel safe during their most vulnerable moments.

I sincerely hope she remains part of the FISH family, because we truly need nurses like Staci.

She is everything the DAISY Award represents.