Hailey Miller, RN

I am a 41-year-old male who has suffered from Bipolar Disorder since I was 14 years old. I was diagnosed at 16. For almost all of my life, my condition has been well managed with medication and counseling. But over a two-week span, I spiraled into an intense mania that I have never experienced. It was so terrible that my loving wife had no choice but to call the police and send me to the ER at AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital.

I was placed in a preliminary 302 Status. I was in this situation for the first time in my life. Hailey Miller was absolutely amazing. I do not have the words to express how awesome she treated me. I was sitting there, a grown man, an experienced OR RN myself, and I must say I haven't in all my career seen a more compassionate and caring nurse. Let alone person. I had every negative emotion one can imagine. I was afraid, sad, scared, angry, and I felt completely alone. Utterly alone. It's the god-honest truth that my nurse was the only human on earth who made me feel loved, safe, and secure. She treated me like a person, a human, when I felt (correct or not) no one else in my life did. She listened to me, comforted me, and treated me like she would a loved one. I trusted her when I couldn't find a way to trust anyone else in my life. Without her care that dark night and horrible morning, I do not know where I would be right now.

At the end of her shift, she came in to say goodbye. She gave me the most caring hug I have ever felt in my life. Tears pour down my face as I write these words. And tears poured from my face into her scrubs in that moment. I can say I will never forget that night and morning. I will most certainly never forget Hailey. She played a huge part in saving my life. I will never forget her, her care, and most of all her compassion for me. I thank God she was there for me that night. I personally cannot imagine a more deserving recipient of the DAISY Award than her. And honestly, if I were allowed, I would gift her with anything she wanted or needed.

Hailey is a great RN and an even better person. Allegheny Valley Hospital is lucky to have her, and I was lucky to have her as my nurse. Thank you so much for everything she did for me.