Maha Nasef, RN

I arrived at the hospital in a state of absolute panic, holding my young daughter, who was suffering from severe eye swelling and a painful infection. She was terrified, crying uncontrollably, and inconsolable. To make matters worse, after completing our registration, the receptionist informed us that the doctor was not currently available and we would simply have to wait. In that moment of helpless waiting, my daughter's panic grew, and my own anxiety skyrocketed as I watched her suffer.

Hearing my daughter's desperate cries from down the hall, she did not just pass by or ignore us. Instead, she immediately came over to see what was wrong. With incredible emotional intelligence, she stepped right into our distress and completely shifted the energy in the room.

Nurse Maha sat down with my daughter and began talking to her softly and kidding around with her. She stayed by her side, distracting her and playing with her until the heavy tears completely stopped. Within minutes, my daughter went from crying in severe pain to laughing out loud.

Seeing my daughter transform from a panicked, crying child into a smiling one instantly brought a profound sense of calm over me as a parent. We were able to wait peacefully until the doctor arrived, and from that point on, everything proceeded smoothly.

The extraordinary kindness and cooperative spirit demonstrated by her did far more than just soothe a crying child for a few minutes; she fundamentally changed how my daughter views medical care. Because of Maha, my daughter is no longer afraid to come to the hospital. In fact, when it is time for her follow-up appointments, she is actually happy to go because I tell her we are going to visit her.

She is truly a kind, lovely, and exceptional professional. She looked past the wait times and the standard protocols to heal a child's fear and comfort a worried parent's heart. She represents the absolute pinnacle of nursing excellence, and she is profoundly deserving of the DAISY Award