I would love to recognize Candice with the DAISY Award in memory of my father, and with deep gratitude from my entire family. I’m sorry it has taken me a year to write this – yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing. As I reflected on that time, I knew I couldn’t let another day go by without expressing how much Candice meant to us during those five heartbreaking days.

Candice was more than just a nurse – she was a guardian of compassion, dignity, and peace in one of the most difficult moments of our lives. When my father suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and fell into a vegetative state, everything changed in an instant. The pain and shock were overwhelming, but Candice was a steady and calming presence from the very beginning. She advocated fiercely for my father, ensuring his care was handled with the utmost respect. She communicated every update with clarity and empathy, helping us feel informed and included when so much felt out of our control.

One moment that will forever stay with me is how Candice made it possible for me and my immediate family to have our final moments alone with our dad - a quiet, sacred space before distant relatives arrived and the room became filled with noise and emotion. She protected that time for us, understanding without us even needing to ask how important it was to say goodbye in our own way. That gift – those final peaceful moments – is something we can never repay. Even amid the chaos and stress, Candice made sure our father’s needs were always met, and ours too.

Her care extended far beyond medical duties – she gave us comfort, reassurance, and the kind of presence that only someone truly meant to be a nurse can give. Thank you, Candice, for your heart, your strength, and for standing beside us when we felt lost. You helped our father leave this world with dignity and gave our family the grace to begin our grieving with peace.