We would like to nominate Kaitlyn Cappetta for the DAISY Award. Our daughter, M, recently spent four days at CHoP after undergoing open-heart surgery. She was released the day before her third birthday. Throughout this difficult experience, we received excellent care from many skilled and compassionate nurses. Among them, Kaitlyn stood out as truly exceptional in the way she cared not only for M but also for us as parents.

Kaitlyn was M's nurse in the CCU for two days and cared for her again as a "floater" on a third. Watching your child undergo major surgery is overwhelming and frightening, but Kaitlyn's attention, skill, and ability to connect with Millie gave us confidence and peace of mind when we needed it most. From the very beginning, Kaitlyn's warmth shone through. M immediately felt safe with her, responding to Kaitlyn's compassion and care. She made M feel heard whenever she voiced concerns, and she always took time to answer our questions and ease our worries. M is naturally chatty and outgoing, and even in moments of pain or discomfort, Kaitlyn drew out her personality and lifted her spirits. Every time Kaitlyn entered the room, M lit up with joy. Kaitlyn even introduced M to other nurses around the unit, helping her feel part of a small, supportive community.

Kaitlyn's care extended to us as parents as well. She was a clear communicator, a steady presence, and a strong advocate for M. It is incredibly hard to watch your child in a vulnerable state after surgery, but seeing M's sparkle return when Kaitlyn was nearby was an amazing gift.

On our final day at CHoP, Kaitlyn went above and beyond by organizing a small birthday celebration for M. Knowing M was being discharged the day before turning three, Kaitlyn brought several nurses together to sing and present a card. It was a beautiful, thoughtful gesture that made M feel so loved at a time when she could have felt scared and uncertain. Even after discharge, M continued to ask to return to the hospital so Kaitlyn could take care of her again.

Since returning home, Kaitlyn's impact has continued. M often pretends to be "Nurse Kaitlyn" while playing with her toy doctor kit, telling everyone she is there to help them feel better and keep them safe. The fact that our daughter associates her hospital stay-and even her surgery-with such positivity is a testament to Kaitlyn's extraordinary care.

Kaitlyn was simply remarkable. She made a lasting, positive impact on M's recovery and on our family as a whole. We are deeply grateful for her compassion and skill, and we feel so fortunate to have had her by our side during such a vulnerable and important time.