Catherine was our rock throughout our son’s entire month-long NICU journey. She was there for the most terrifying moments—from the early days on a cooling mat for seizures to the delicate process of being warmed and weaned off heavy sedation. Even as he struggled with oxygen desaturations, Catherine was our son’s biggest champion, always believing he could feed and breathe on his own before we did. Because of her, we saw the day he finally pulled out his NG tube, and his nasal cannula was removed. She didn't just care for him; she empowered us to be his parents.

The gift Catherine gave us when we left is a singular moment that stands out to us. Since she watched over him more than anyone else, she became the person we trusted most to care for him when we couldn’t be there. We got so attached to her that leaving the NICU actually felt bittersweet because she had become family, and we miss her presence deeply. On our last day, she did the sweetest thing: she had the entire nursing staff, therapists, and doctors sign a book for him. Seeing all those messages in one place moved us to tears because it showed us that an entire village was truly rooting for our son. This book is our most prized possession because it represents the community Catherine built around us. We will grow up reading those messages to our son, telling him all about his "Miss Catherine" and the love she showed us when we needed it most.

Catherine is the epitome of the DAISY spirit. She didn’t just help us bring a healthy baby home; she gave us a family and a sense of belonging we will cherish forever.