We had traveled from Chicago to Amelia Island to attend a wedding when our son was born via emergency C-section at just 31 weeks of gestation. As healthcare professionals (I’m a CRNA and my wife is a nurse educator), we’re no strangers to hospitals or critical care — but when it came to caring for our own 4-pound premature baby, we were completely terrified and overwhelmed.

Ashley was the nurse who admitted our son to the NICU at UF Health Jacksonville. From the very beginning, she stood out as someone extraordinary. She was calm and compassionate while also confident in her clinical skills and knowledge. She didn’t just take excellent care of our son — she took care of us, too. She gave us the confidence to be active participants in his care: holding him, feeding him, asking the right questions during rounds, and more. She also reminded us that it was okay to take breaks when we needed to, and that taking care of ourselves was just as important as caring for our son. Her ability to make us feel safe, supported, and empowered in the midst of such an emotional and unfamiliar situation was nothing short of remarkable. Her presence and professionalism made such a lasting impression that we began calling her “Bad A** Ashley” — a nickname born from the deep trust and admiration we felt for her. She was exactly who we needed at a time when everything felt uncertain.

Our son spent 34 days in the NICU, but those first few days with Ashley gave us the strength and reassurance we needed to make it through. As someone who has worked alongside many great nurses, I can say with confidence that Ashley is a true example of what the DAISY Award represents. We are forever grateful for her kindness, skill, and unwavering support.