July 2025
Ashley R
Martinez
,
BSN RN
7 East
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Phoenix
,
AZ
United States
She gave us hope at moments when we had very little left.
Have you ever walked past one of those pamphlets that say, "Would you like to say thank you to your nurse? Please consider nominating them for a DAISY Award," and thought, "I should do that, but didn't"? We couldn't let this opportunity pass us by. Not this time. Not for this incredible nurse.
Nurse Ashley Martinez showed us extraordinary care, compassion, and strength during one of the most difficult weeks of our lives. Our daughter underwent major surgery at the Mayo Clinic to treat May-Thurner Syndrome. We had the privilege of working with a phenomenal doctor, who prepared us for what was ahead: the pain, the discomfort, and the uncertainty that would follow the stent placement. But nothing could have fully prepared us for what we experienced the next day, and the days that followed.
The post-surgery period was filled with fear, pain, and sleepless nights. As parents, we felt helpless watching our daughter in such distress. Yet through it all, the nursing staff at Mayo was attentive, professional, and deeply compassionate. Still, one nurse stood out in a way we will never forget, Ashley Martinez. Ashley came into our lives once our daughter was transferred to a different unit for recovery and pain management. From the very first moment, we were struck by her presence, calm, in control, and completely focused on what she needed.
She listened, assessed, and acted with clarity and purpose. She didn't just check vitals or administer medications; she created a plan. She advocated for our daughter's comfort, dignity, and healing. She became our anchor. Ashley anticipated both the obvious and subtle needs of our daughter and of us, her parents. She eased pain in both clinical and emotional ways. She gave us hope at moments when we had very little left. She was a model of Mayo Clinic's RICH TIES values: Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Healing, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, and Stewardship.
There is nothing "normal" about what nurses do. The word "nurse" doesn't even begin to capture the scope of what Ashley brought into that hospital room. She was a healer, an advocate, a leader, and a light in the darkness. And the truth is, even though one person is the "patient" in essence, the entire family becomes the patient.
On behalf of my family, thank you!
Nurse Ashley Martinez showed us extraordinary care, compassion, and strength during one of the most difficult weeks of our lives. Our daughter underwent major surgery at the Mayo Clinic to treat May-Thurner Syndrome. We had the privilege of working with a phenomenal doctor, who prepared us for what was ahead: the pain, the discomfort, and the uncertainty that would follow the stent placement. But nothing could have fully prepared us for what we experienced the next day, and the days that followed.
The post-surgery period was filled with fear, pain, and sleepless nights. As parents, we felt helpless watching our daughter in such distress. Yet through it all, the nursing staff at Mayo was attentive, professional, and deeply compassionate. Still, one nurse stood out in a way we will never forget, Ashley Martinez. Ashley came into our lives once our daughter was transferred to a different unit for recovery and pain management. From the very first moment, we were struck by her presence, calm, in control, and completely focused on what she needed.
She listened, assessed, and acted with clarity and purpose. She didn't just check vitals or administer medications; she created a plan. She advocated for our daughter's comfort, dignity, and healing. She became our anchor. Ashley anticipated both the obvious and subtle needs of our daughter and of us, her parents. She eased pain in both clinical and emotional ways. She gave us hope at moments when we had very little left. She was a model of Mayo Clinic's RICH TIES values: Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Healing, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, and Stewardship.
There is nothing "normal" about what nurses do. The word "nurse" doesn't even begin to capture the scope of what Ashley brought into that hospital room. She was a healer, an advocate, a leader, and a light in the darkness. And the truth is, even though one person is the "patient" in essence, the entire family becomes the patient.
On behalf of my family, thank you!