I am nominating Colleen for the DAISY Award because her vigilance, skill, and compassion made all the difference during one of the most frightening moments of my life. After delivering my baby, I experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage. It began suddenly, and very quickly, I found myself in a life-threatening crisis. In that moment, Colleen was everything I needed—both a highly skilled nurse and a steady, reassuring presence. She was the first to notice that my bleeding was heavier than normal. Instead of dismissing it, she immediately took it seriously. She carefully measured my blood loss, stayed alert to every change, and communicated details to my doctors with clarity and urgency.

Because of her attentiveness, nothing was overlooked. I will never forget what she did with my placenta. After delivery, Colleen recognized that my doctor might need to examine it more closely, so she very carefully wrapped it before discarding it. Hours later, she retrieved it from the trash so it could be pieced back together by my doctor. That quick, thoughtful action ended up being an important part of my care and showed how she constantly thought ahead in my best interest. As my bleeding worsened and the interventions became more intense, Colleen never left my side. She was there through the manual uterine sweep with the on-call OB, and later through my D&C with my own doctor. These were frightening and painful moments, yet I never felt abandoned. She explained what was happening, comforted me when I was scared, and reminded me that I was not alone.

What stood out most was how she balanced professionalism with genuine warmth. She was quick-thinking and decisive, yet personable and kind. I knew I was safe not only because she was skilled, but because she cared. In postpartum hemorrhage, minutes matter. Colleen’s vigilance and smart decisions quite literally saved me. I often think about how differently things could have turned out if she had not been so attentive. My outcome could have been far worse, but because she was there, I am home today with my baby and family. Colleen did not just care for a patient—she cared for me as a woman, a mother, and a person. She is the very kind of extraordinary nurse the DAISY Award was created to honor, and I am forever grateful.