July 2026 Honoree
Laura Mercy, BSN, RN, CPHON
When I close my eyes, I can still picture the room where my wife and I learned that our son had rhabdomyosarcoma. I remember exactly where we were sitting, where my son was sitting, where the doctor was sitting, and where Laura Mercy was sitting. It is not a moment I enjoy revisiting. It was one of the worst days of our lives. Our world was shaken in an instant. What I remember most from that day, however, is Laura.
From the moment we met her, she brought warmth, kindness, and calm into a situation that felt impossible to bear. She made us feel heard when we were overwhelmed. She made us feel that every question we asked was important and worthwhile. In a moment filled with fear and uncertainty, she gave us confidence that we could take the next step, and then the one after that. Laura was a soft landing when everything around us felt like it was falling apart.
More than a year has passed since that first conversation, and Laura continues to be one of the brightest lights in our pediatric oncology journey. She greets us with a genuine smile every time we walk into the clinic. She has built a real and meaningful relationship with my son. Her compassion is authentic, consistent, and deeply felt. What makes Laura even more remarkable is that she combines that incredible kindness with exceptional skill. She is one of the smartest, most efficient nurses in the clinic, and she carries herself with a level of professionalism that inspires confidence.
Years from now, I will look back on our experiences with gratitude. That may sound unbelievable given that it is a pediatric oncology clinic, but it is true. From the get-go, we had thought that these nurses were the best people you never wanted to meet. Laura will be at the heart of those memories. She helped transform one of the most painful chapters of our lives into one marked by connection, compassion, and hope. For the extraordinary care she has shown our son, for the comfort she brought our family when we needed it most, and for the lasting impact she continues to have on our lives, I can think of no one more deserving of a DAISY Award than Laura Mercy.
From the moment we met her, she brought warmth, kindness, and calm into a situation that felt impossible to bear. She made us feel heard when we were overwhelmed. She made us feel that every question we asked was important and worthwhile. In a moment filled with fear and uncertainty, she gave us confidence that we could take the next step, and then the one after that. Laura was a soft landing when everything around us felt like it was falling apart.
More than a year has passed since that first conversation, and Laura continues to be one of the brightest lights in our pediatric oncology journey. She greets us with a genuine smile every time we walk into the clinic. She has built a real and meaningful relationship with my son. Her compassion is authentic, consistent, and deeply felt. What makes Laura even more remarkable is that she combines that incredible kindness with exceptional skill. She is one of the smartest, most efficient nurses in the clinic, and she carries herself with a level of professionalism that inspires confidence.
Years from now, I will look back on our experiences with gratitude. That may sound unbelievable given that it is a pediatric oncology clinic, but it is true. From the get-go, we had thought that these nurses were the best people you never wanted to meet. Laura will be at the heart of those memories. She helped transform one of the most painful chapters of our lives into one marked by connection, compassion, and hope. For the extraordinary care she has shown our son, for the comfort she brought our family when we needed it most, and for the lasting impact she continues to have on our lives, I can think of no one more deserving of a DAISY Award than Laura Mercy.
Thank you, Laura, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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