On Thursday my 17 year old niece went into DKA. It was a scary time for my niece being away from home and when Sherry came on shift she took my niece's hand and explained what was going on, the plan of care, asked if she had any questions and then she took the time to explain things to me also. She was very patient and kind and encouraged me to go home and get some rest. As an employee we sometimes forget what it may be like on the other side of the bed, but I am so thankful for Sherry and the other night shift staff who took time to explain things to me as a family member, answer my questions and be very attentive to my niece. She is 17 years old; however, she is still a minor. They allowed me to be at her bedside as much as I needed to be. When I went home to finally get some rest, they kept me updated in the morning with how fragile her sugars had been throughout the night. It is the compassion, extraordinary care she displayed to my niece and to me as a family member and the emotional support she gave us, is the reason I believe she deserves this DAISY Award.

My niece wants to be a nurse because of the care she received and after meeting with the Diabetic Educator, she wants to make a difference for other kids with Type I DM. Thank you Sherry for taking the time to show us that you care. It made a big difference for us and my niece says, "She's the coolest nurse there!"