I was hospitalized in late March on SCU for what turned out to be a 12 day stay. I had emergent surgery that left me anxious, in pain and somewhat depressed.

Maureen was my nurse on post op day 2 to 5. She not only showed supreme skill but I found her compassion and tough love attitude exactly what I needed. She pushed me to push myself to get up and walk when I needed the extra push and when I needed TLC she was always there to hold my hand, offer a tissue or a hug.

She came into my room every morning with a cheerful, positive attitude and always said "we are going to do this together!" She never let me feel alone in my recovery and she is who I wholeheartedly credit my recovery to. I told her before I was discharged that there was no way that I could have done this without her. She looked at me and said that I did it by myself.

She has no idea the impact that she has on her patients and no idea how her little gestures of true care and compassion leave a BIG mark on the lives of those she touches. It is because of this that I believe that Maureen should be the recipient of the DAISY Award. Everything about her is extraordinary.