Julia was an angel and a guiding light through the worst hours of my life. When I look back on my labor, most of it is a blur. I was terrified, devastated, and in complete shock. I felt unprepared to give birth to a living child, let alone my son, who had already died. I wasn’t ready.

I will be forever grateful for the nursing team, including Julia. Julia’s calm, steady, and supportive presence all night long made me feel like I was her only focus. She checked on me frequently and made sure I felt comfortable and calm enough to get some rest.

In addition to all of the emotional and physical support Julia provided during delivery, she also took the time to capture photos of the moments after our son’s birth, the moments in which my husband and I met and said goodbye to our firstborn son. We will treasure these pictures forever. They are our main connection to our son's memory. These photos, and the care she put into making them meaningful, are now a sacred part of our family’s story.

Julia wasn’t just a nurse; she was an anchor and a lighthouse in the most profoundly painful and vulnerable moment of my life. While I have only known her in a clinical setting, she truly feels like a friend. Julia helped me get through something I never thought I would be able to do. Because of her, I walked away from the most devastating experience of my life not just with care, but with dignity, compassion, and a sense of strength I didn’t know I had.

Her advocacy, clinical excellence, and above all, her compassionate heart are exactly what the DAISY Award stands for. I am so grateful to Julia Kline, and I hope she knows the lasting impact she made, not only on me, but on my family and our story.

She is an incredible nurse and an incredible person, and I will always think of her as a friend and a source of immense strength.

With deepest gratitude.