September 2025
Maggie
Cazzetta
,
BSN, RN
Surgical Unit East
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Her compassion and dedication went so far beyond anything I could have imagined.
When our son was in the hospital, our world stood still. Every day was filled with uncertainty, fear, and overwhelming emotion. But in the middle of that storm, we met Maggie—or as we lovingly came to call her, "Mama Maggie."
From the moment Maggie walked into his room, there was a calmness in her presence, a confidence in her care, and a kindness in her soul that I will never forget. She wasn't just a nurse. She became family. She was our person—the one we trusted completely with our son's fragile life. I could finally breathe when I knew Maggie was on shift. For the first time in a long time, I felt peace as I walked away from the hospital, knowing Maggie would love and care for our son like her own.
What made Maggie even more extraordinary was the way she cared for me. She saw beyond the scared mother in front of her. She saw me—the woman who hadn't slept, who was running on adrenaline and anxiety, who was terrified of the unknown. Maggie was the only nurse who ever picked up the phone to call me with updates, even when she didn't have to. She didn't wait for me to ask; she just knew when I needed reassurance. She made sure I never felt like I was going through it alone.
I confided in her. I trusted her with my son, and I leaned on her more than I can ever explain. Maggie held our hands during the darkest moments and celebrated every tiny victory with us. Her compassion and dedication went so far beyond anything I could have imagined.
It has taken me three months after discharge to finally write this, not because Maggie didn't deserve it the second we left, but because I struggled to find the right words. How do you capture someone like her in a paragraph? How do you thank the person who carried your child—and you—through the hardest days of your life?
Maggie is a rare and beautiful soul. She is a nurse who leaves an imprint on your heart forever. Our son will always have a place in his story for Mama Maggie, and so will I.
She is our angel.
She is the reason we made it through.
She is the very definition of a DAISY Nurse.
With all my love and gratitude.
From the moment Maggie walked into his room, there was a calmness in her presence, a confidence in her care, and a kindness in her soul that I will never forget. She wasn't just a nurse. She became family. She was our person—the one we trusted completely with our son's fragile life. I could finally breathe when I knew Maggie was on shift. For the first time in a long time, I felt peace as I walked away from the hospital, knowing Maggie would love and care for our son like her own.
What made Maggie even more extraordinary was the way she cared for me. She saw beyond the scared mother in front of her. She saw me—the woman who hadn't slept, who was running on adrenaline and anxiety, who was terrified of the unknown. Maggie was the only nurse who ever picked up the phone to call me with updates, even when she didn't have to. She didn't wait for me to ask; she just knew when I needed reassurance. She made sure I never felt like I was going through it alone.
I confided in her. I trusted her with my son, and I leaned on her more than I can ever explain. Maggie held our hands during the darkest moments and celebrated every tiny victory with us. Her compassion and dedication went so far beyond anything I could have imagined.
It has taken me three months after discharge to finally write this, not because Maggie didn't deserve it the second we left, but because I struggled to find the right words. How do you capture someone like her in a paragraph? How do you thank the person who carried your child—and you—through the hardest days of your life?
Maggie is a rare and beautiful soul. She is a nurse who leaves an imprint on your heart forever. Our son will always have a place in his story for Mama Maggie, and so will I.
She is our angel.
She is the reason we made it through.
She is the very definition of a DAISY Nurse.
With all my love and gratitude.