It’s impossible to put into words just how much Nurse Amy’s care meant to me during my hospital stay. From the moment she walked into my room, I felt seen. As someone who works in healthcare, I know how overwhelming a nurse’s shift can be, but she never made me feel like I was just another patient. She made me feel like I mattered. Every time someone came to check on me—the tele-hospitalist, the PA, even the technician doing my ECG and echo—she was right there because she knew how much anxiety I was carrying. Being 18 and in the hospital for the first time was incredibly nerve-wracking, but she became my advocate. She made sure I understood everything and, most importantly, that I didn’t feel alone in such an overwhelming moment.

As a hijabi Muslim, I can’t tell you how much her respect for my faith meant. She took extra steps to make sure I was comfortable in ways I never had to ask for—whether it was helping me maintain my modesty or simply ensuring I had the privacy I needed. When the cardiologist arrived, she was right there, ensuring I felt heard. It wasn’t just her actions; it was her heart.

I had carried guilt with me throughout my stay—blaming myself for the dehydration that had landed me in the hospital. Amy saw this, and instead of letting me silently carry that burden, she gently reminded me that it wasn’t my fault. She spoke to me with such kindness, reminding me that I wasn’t to blame. Her words felt like a weight lifting off my chest, and in that moment, I realized how much I needed to hear that.

Before I left, she taught me a breathing technique to help manage my anxiety, she gave me a tool to face each day with more strength and peace. 

She is the kind of nurse who doesn’t just treat the body. In a time when I felt completely vulnerable, she made me feel safe, valued, and understood. I will never forget her. Nurse Amy is a perfect embodiment of what it means to be a caregiver, and for that, I believe she deserves the DAISY Award more than words can express.