We nominate Micki Free and Jeannie Matsche were our primary care team together. We have identical twin girls that were born on July 24, 2013, AJ (1#8oz) and LK (2#11oz), at 29.2 weeks, 11 weeks premature.

First of all, we want to commend all of the NICU nurses as a unit. They are so dedicated to caring for all of the teeny tiny bundles of joy. It can be a very emotional place. We cried with more than one nurse on more than one occasion. On more than one occasion, our little babies required someone to save their life, and the nurses stepped in and obliged. The NICU is not just a place for the nurses to care for the patients. It is also a place for them to communicate with the parents. This is an important part of the NICU experience. They take on the role of teacher and counselor. They always take everything in stride.

One day we arrived at the girls' bedsides and found a sign that read, "Primary Care Specialists: Jeannie and Micki." Jeannie and Micki requested to be assigned to our girls. We were excited about this as we didn't know this was a possibility and Micki and Jeannie were already creating a special place in our hearts and our family. They have been our girls' guardian angels, our counselors, our support crew, our interpreters in the medical maze, and our friends. They have understood us when no one else in our world could quite grasp what we were going through. They loved and cared for our children as though they were their own.

The first time I met Jeannie was a day or two after the girls were born. She gave me baby books for the girls' NICU journey. She gave me a hug. I cried. Jeannie has a knack for making me cry. I can be strong listening to the doctors and asking questions. I can remain objective and keep it together. Once Jeannie hugs me, all bets are off. She is caring and sincere. She always made me feel safe and was accepting of all of my emotions and tears throughout our journey.

Jeannie's passion is second to none. When the girls were to be extubated, AJ couldn't be because her nose was too small to switch to nasal prongs. Jeannie wrote to the company and told them they should start making prongs for micro preemies. Turns out they were in the process of making them and now Marshfield clinic is a pilot for the product. Jeannie would call the NICU at 2AM just to check on the girls because she was having a "feeling." She had to make sure they were okay. This illustrates her extraordinary passion and care for her patients.

She was not afraid to tell the doctors what the girls needed and stand up for what she thought was best. Jeannie has the experience and knowledge to be confident in advocating what she thinks is best for her patients. This fosters trust and respect with the physicians, her peers, and the families of the babies. Jeannie has made a difference in our lives beyond the NICU. Jeannie came to Milwaukee for AJ's heart surgery on 11/27/13 and stayed with us for Thanksgiving. The list is endless in the ways Jeannie is passionate about her job, her patients, her family, and her friends.

Then there's Micki. We didn't meet Micki until a couple weeks after the girls were born. AJ was having a hard time dealing with the area of the NICU she was located in. As a cardiac baby she was very sensitive to noise and light. The first night we met Micki we asked if there was any way Alida could be moved to a quieter area. The next morning the girls were in a nice quiet back corner. Ever since then, we always knew Micki would go to bat for us and the girls.

I spent a couple evenings in the NICU with just Micki and AJ after LK came home. This is when I realized that Micki was going to be more than a nurse in the NICU; she was going to be my friend. A true, genuine friend. Micki listens. She understands. She cares. Despite my gratitude for everything we have gone through and my optimism 90% of the time, I still have times when I am frustrated, emotional, angry, and scared. I know I can go to Micki during those times and vent. She lets me be me and doesn't judge me for those feelings. She answers all of my questions, even the silliest ones, and reassures me that I am capable of taking on the tremendous job of being a parent, a heart mom, nonetheless. She wouldn't care if I called her at work or in the middle of the night. That's just who she is. Her children are very fortunate to have her as a mother. I aspire to be as giving and selfless as Micki.

Not only were Jeannie and Micki there for us during our NICU journey, but they continue to be part of our lives and there for the girls. Jeannie drove down Tuesday night before AJ's first heart surgery on Wednesday. She stayed until Thanksgiving. We had to practically force her to come out for Thanksgiving dinner with us as she wanted to respect our privacy and space. She was amazing on surgery day. She kept it together for us when we weren't coping well with discouraging news; she helped us understand what the doctors said and answered questions from our inquiring parents for us. Then at the end of the day, she thanked us for letting her be there. After everything she did for us, she was thanking us?! We insisted it should be the other way around. We wouldn't have made it through that day without her.

Micki and Jeannie came down to Milwaukee together on the day of the pacemaker surgery (12/4/13). They got there at 11am and watched LK most of the day so we could have a little break and focus on AJ. AJ's surgery ended up being at 5pm, right when LK was hitting her prime time of the day. They took turns walking with her and ordered us pizza. We were exhausted from being at the hospital since 8am that morning. They stayed with us until AJ's surgery was done and she was back in her room which was about 9pm. Then they drove home.

It is those types of selfless, caring acts that make them both so deserving of the DAISY Award. They exemplify all of the qualities and attributes the award signifies. We are so fortunate to have these two amazing nurses in our lives. These are not just nurses; they are heroes to us and dozens of babies and families every day.