I am writing to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for Cynthia Apodaca, a nurse whose extraordinary care and compassion have profoundly impacted my hospital stay. Cynthia’s dedication to her patients is unmatched. She goes out of her way to ensure I feel cared for and valued, spending time with me even on her busiest days. She treats every minute as if I am her only patient, offering not just medical care but also dignity, respect, and empathy.

Cynthia takes the time to educate me about my care plan, ensuring I understand every detail, which has made me feel empowered and at ease during a challenging time. Despite the unit being short-staffed on some nights, Cynthia maintains a positive attitude and steps up to support her coworkers when needed. She is honest, reliable, and thoughtful, always following through on her promises. Her ability to treat every patient like family is remarkable, and her kindness has transformed what could have been a lonely experience during the holidays into something special.

During my 12-day stay, which included missing my birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s, Cynthia went above and beyond to ensure those days felt meaningful and celebrated. She exemplifies everything an agency could hope for in an RN—compassionate, professional, and incredibly skilled. For these reasons and so many more, I would like to nominate Cynthia Apodaca for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She is nothing shy of an extraordinary nurse.

The part that touches me most is how genuine she is—she does everything with such grace and humility, as if it isn’t even work for her. Cynthia feels more like a skilled sister coming in to take care of you, rather than someone simply doing a job. Cynthia truly deserves this award more than anyone I know. She is a shining example of what it means to be a nurse, and I am so grateful to have been under her care.