You are never prepared for the unexpected, and after a stroke, a person needs as much encouragement as they need care. My mother suffered a stroke in September. As a result of the stroke, she lost movement on her right side, had trouble swallowing, and had slurred speech. This nurse has been instrumental in caring for and encouraging my mother. We met this nurse, my mother’s first weekend in the hospital (thus far, she has been in the hospital 13 days). She came in and I was reading to her—and she said, “Go on and get your Sunday school lesson, I’ll be back.” I knew then she was going to be different. This nurse was very much a culturally responsive nurse-- using references that were culturally and age-appropriate to help motivate my mom. As secretions would sometimes gather in the back of her throat and my mom had issues clearing it – This nurse sang DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat”—to the point my mom started trying to sing along—it made my mother smile. My mom also began clearing her throat. As she did the stroke assessment throughout the day, she would say, “Miss R – raise that arm to the sky and say Hallelujah.” Her antics made my mom both smile and try. She brought so much joy to what was such a stressful/scary situation. But this nurse was not only fun and joyful, but she was also vigilant. She noticed my mother developing a cough and she would communicate constantly with the doctors about whether she needed this medicine or that—and she always helped explain to all of us (me and my mother) the plan for care. She helped wean my mother off of oxygen and helped talk her into using the CPAP each night. Today, we were unsuccessful at a bedside swallowing test and the SLP asked if we wanted to the barium swallow before getting a feeding tube in my mom’s stomach. I was asking my mom what to do-- what she wanted to do. This nurse jumped in, and slowed me down. She explained to my mom the options and ensured she understood each option before making a decision. She never talked down to her—but she made sure she understood. I would give anything for my mom never to have had a stroke, but if we had to experience this, I am thankful God sent an angel, in this nurse, to help us through it. She is a true DAISY Nurse.