November 2025
Marianne
Pesci
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
AdventHealth Fish Memorial
Orange City
,
FL
United States
Her compassion, professionalism, and dedication made a lasting impression on my family and me. She didn’t just care for my wife medically, she cared for all of us emotionally, and that made all the difference in the world!
Marianne Pesci demonstrated extraordinary care, compassion, and dedication during one of the most important moments of our lives. I think we all can agree that childbirth, though amazing and beautiful, can also be very scary at times. My wife and I were blessed with two wonderful children of our own and felt our family was complete, but my wife strongly wanted to help others have children who were unable to conceive on their own.
I was fully in support of this, as I have never felt more fulfilled by anything in my life than becoming a mother. She embarked on a surrogacy journey, and it somehow made the thought of childbirth have even higher stakes because this was someone else’s child, whom she was responsible for. From the moment my wife was admitted to Labor and Delivery, she received top-notch care; however, Marianne stood out in the crowd even though she was surrounded by exceptional providers. Her calm, confident presence immediately put me at ease. I didn’t even realize how much I needed that calming presence until she brought that energy into the room with her.
She took the time to explain every step of the process, not only to my wife, but to me, as well as the intended parents, in terms that were easy to understand. She answered every question with patience and kindness and never made any of us feel rushed or dismissed. She made you feel like she had all the time in the world for you, even though she was also attending to other patients. It was clear that she not only had deep clinical expertise but also an incredibly empathetic heart. What truly set her apart was her going above and beyond during labor. Marianne stayed by the bedside, talking us through everything, reassuring us, and advocating for my wife's wishes when she became too overwhelmed to do so herself.
She ran interference for those who were walking in and out of the room to help maintain a sense of privacy and modesty. There were concerns from the beginning based on the size that the baby was measuring (large) and the fact that he was not down in the pelvis. We were all concerned that this was going to end with an emergency C-section, in which my wife was alone in the OR, and the intended parents didn’t get to witness their baby being born. Every time my wife started to feel like this baby was too big and he wasn’t going to fit to come out naturally, it was Marianne who was right there by her side, holding her hand and reassuring her that she was still good. Her confidence put us all at ease, even in a high-stress situation.
Even after delivery, Marianne continued to provide exceptional care. She ensured both mother and baby were safe and comfortable. She ensured that communication continued between the new parents, my wife, and me so that we all felt well-informed. It was something truly magical to witness, and the whole room was in tears. Marianne celebrated with us like she was a part of our family. She even ensured that someone was there to capture the new parents' first precious moments together with their new baby when we were all too caught up in the whirlwind to think of it ourselves.
Her compassion, professionalism, and dedication made a lasting impression on my family and me. She didn’t just care for my wife medically, she cared for all of us emotionally, and that made all the difference in the world! Marianne exemplifies everything the DAISY Award represents. She is a true nurse in every sense of the word- skilled, compassionate, selfless, and deeply committed to her patients. I am beyond grateful for the care that not only my wife received, but also how she supported us in making another family's dreams come true.
AdventHealth is very fortunate to have such a phenomenal member on their team. The world would be a much better place if there were more Mariannes in it.
I was fully in support of this, as I have never felt more fulfilled by anything in my life than becoming a mother. She embarked on a surrogacy journey, and it somehow made the thought of childbirth have even higher stakes because this was someone else’s child, whom she was responsible for. From the moment my wife was admitted to Labor and Delivery, she received top-notch care; however, Marianne stood out in the crowd even though she was surrounded by exceptional providers. Her calm, confident presence immediately put me at ease. I didn’t even realize how much I needed that calming presence until she brought that energy into the room with her.
She took the time to explain every step of the process, not only to my wife, but to me, as well as the intended parents, in terms that were easy to understand. She answered every question with patience and kindness and never made any of us feel rushed or dismissed. She made you feel like she had all the time in the world for you, even though she was also attending to other patients. It was clear that she not only had deep clinical expertise but also an incredibly empathetic heart. What truly set her apart was her going above and beyond during labor. Marianne stayed by the bedside, talking us through everything, reassuring us, and advocating for my wife's wishes when she became too overwhelmed to do so herself.
She ran interference for those who were walking in and out of the room to help maintain a sense of privacy and modesty. There were concerns from the beginning based on the size that the baby was measuring (large) and the fact that he was not down in the pelvis. We were all concerned that this was going to end with an emergency C-section, in which my wife was alone in the OR, and the intended parents didn’t get to witness their baby being born. Every time my wife started to feel like this baby was too big and he wasn’t going to fit to come out naturally, it was Marianne who was right there by her side, holding her hand and reassuring her that she was still good. Her confidence put us all at ease, even in a high-stress situation.
Even after delivery, Marianne continued to provide exceptional care. She ensured both mother and baby were safe and comfortable. She ensured that communication continued between the new parents, my wife, and me so that we all felt well-informed. It was something truly magical to witness, and the whole room was in tears. Marianne celebrated with us like she was a part of our family. She even ensured that someone was there to capture the new parents' first precious moments together with their new baby when we were all too caught up in the whirlwind to think of it ourselves.
Her compassion, professionalism, and dedication made a lasting impression on my family and me. She didn’t just care for my wife medically, she cared for all of us emotionally, and that made all the difference in the world! Marianne exemplifies everything the DAISY Award represents. She is a true nurse in every sense of the word- skilled, compassionate, selfless, and deeply committed to her patients. I am beyond grateful for the care that not only my wife received, but also how she supported us in making another family's dreams come true.
AdventHealth is very fortunate to have such a phenomenal member on their team. The world would be a much better place if there were more Mariannes in it.