My name I am a patient in the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Division. My Family, our Social Worker, and I would like to nominate Erika Hedden for a DAISY Award. Ericka is an amazing nurse. She embodies so many qualities a patient values in a great nurse. She is a star in our eyes. Erika is smart, thoughtful, kind, and gentle. She is conscientious, my advocate, and is determined to provide impeccable care. She is attentive to my care needs, and while doing that, she pays attention to my family, too. Erika has been taking care of me for a little over a year. I was diagnosed with ALL in November of 2023. It is refractory. I have received treatment both here at Goryeb Children’s Hospital and at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I have had some really good nurses at both places; they are competent, but Erika and I have an incredibly special relationship. Erika cares for all of me. She is my “Hospital Mother”. She is very nurturing. She always takes the time to listen to me. She talks to me directly and listens until she understands... I mean, really listens. She knows me. She knows when I need to keep things light and when I need more tender comfort. I have had some serious adverse neurologic side effects from some of the chemotherapy. I have been worried and at times scared by my symptoms. I feel safe when she is around. She takes the time to assess me while in the Valerie Center so that my family would not have to make additional trips to the ER. She shows concern when I do not seem to be acting like myself. I have a port, and at times it can be difficult to access. Recently, despite multiple attempts, the nursing staff was not able to access my port. My family shared with the other nurses that Erika can get it without trouble. Erika came in on a Saturday to access me. It was her time off. She was able to get it on the first try. I was so grateful! I have jokingly called her “Old Reliable.” She says she does not like the OLD part! Erika makes me laugh! Sometimes she says the funniest things. There was a time when I needed to get injections every other day for 2 weeks for 3 cycles. I hated it. I would make myself so anxious. Each time, she would take the time to talk with me, understand my hesitation, and then I would take the shot. One day, as I was anxiously replaying the thoughts of not wanting to take the shot, thinking “I hate it, it hurts, this sucks,” I thought, “maybe if I run, she will not realize that I am gone.” Erika came with the dreaded needle. She took one look at me and knew just what I needed. She said, “Drop your drawers!” All of us could not stop cracking up! I laughed so hard that by the time I recovered, I was not nervous anymore. When she is taking care of me, I feel safe. I love it when I come in for treatment and I am assigned to her care. The other nurses are all amazing too, but I have to say there are times I am a little disappointed when she is off. My Dad is a nurse here in the hospital. He provides care to many adult Oncology patients. He has so much respect for Erika! I know that I am lucky to have this kind of relationship with my Oncology Team and Nurses that go above and beyond for their patients! Please consider Erika Hedden, AKA “Old Faithful,” for the DAISY Award.