Jessica Butler
October 2025
Jessica
Butler
,
RN
Bass Center for Childhood Cancer
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford
Palo Alto
,
CA
United States
Jess embodies everything that is beautiful about nursing. She is skilled, compassionate, present, and profoundly human.
I first met Jess the day after my daughter's B-ALL diagnosis, just after her first LP/ITMX and central line placement in the OR. Coming out of anesthesia, my daughter was terrified, groggy, and overwhelmed. What followed was one of the most frightening experiences of my life as a parent. My usually sweet princess turned into a full wolverine — thrashing, lashing out, trying to hurt herself and me. It was shocking and heartbreaking.
That day, Jess was the charge nurse, with no shortage of responsibilities. Yet she recognized immediately that keeping my daughter safe would require her presence. For more than two hours, Jess stayed with us. She quite literally lay alongside her and me in bed, calmly keeping her safe, answering every complaint and fear, and creating light in the darkest of moments. Jess was a steady, positive voice when mine could not be heard. She gave of herself selflessly, and she helped her — and me — find the calm we so desperately needed.
I used to joke with Jess that a DAISY nomination for “laying on my daughter” didn’t sound fitting. But the farther I get from that day, the more I understand the beauty of what she did. Jess gave my daughter the physical, emotional, and mental safe space to be exactly who she needed to be in that moment, so she could move forward into treatment with hard-earned confidence. She allowed her the time to process, to grieve the life she had known, and to begin welcoming the new life she would grow into and, in time, thrive through.
Since that day, Jess has continued to show up for us both. She has been a cheerleader for her, reconnecting with her during inpatient stays, reminding her of her own courage, and extending confidence when we needed it most. In the worst moments, Jess has been a light for is. And in the best moments, an ever-present caregiver filled with cheer and positivity.
Jess embodies everything that is beautiful about nursing. She is skilled, compassionate, present, and profoundly human. Our family will never forget what she has done for us, and I believe she is the very definition of a DAISY nurse.
That day, Jess was the charge nurse, with no shortage of responsibilities. Yet she recognized immediately that keeping my daughter safe would require her presence. For more than two hours, Jess stayed with us. She quite literally lay alongside her and me in bed, calmly keeping her safe, answering every complaint and fear, and creating light in the darkest of moments. Jess was a steady, positive voice when mine could not be heard. She gave of herself selflessly, and she helped her — and me — find the calm we so desperately needed.
I used to joke with Jess that a DAISY nomination for “laying on my daughter” didn’t sound fitting. But the farther I get from that day, the more I understand the beauty of what she did. Jess gave my daughter the physical, emotional, and mental safe space to be exactly who she needed to be in that moment, so she could move forward into treatment with hard-earned confidence. She allowed her the time to process, to grieve the life she had known, and to begin welcoming the new life she would grow into and, in time, thrive through.
Since that day, Jess has continued to show up for us both. She has been a cheerleader for her, reconnecting with her during inpatient stays, reminding her of her own courage, and extending confidence when we needed it most. In the worst moments, Jess has been a light for is. And in the best moments, an ever-present caregiver filled with cheer and positivity.
Jess embodies everything that is beautiful about nursing. She is skilled, compassionate, present, and profoundly human. Our family will never forget what she has done for us, and I believe she is the very definition of a DAISY nurse.