Marie Anumbondem, RN, BSN

I am thrilled to recognize Marie Anumbondem for extraordinary compassion and skill during my recovery from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a frightening and life-altering experience that left me physically vulnerable and emotionally overwhelmed.

GBS took away my independence almost overnight. Tasks I once did without thinking—moving, eating, even speaking at times—became impossible. After I was discharged from the acute hospital to MedStar National Rehab, Marie became my nurse champion. During this period, she provided not only exceptional clinical care, but also a level of kindness and humor that made an immeasurable difference in my recovery.

From the very beginning, Marie treated me with dignity and patience. She helped me navigate through some very difficult and uncomfortable situations. While this type of care is part of her everyday activities, for someone who has never felt that vulnerable and had little to no control over my body, she made me realize that this was normal and was just part of my recovery.

She also helped keep my spirits up when progress felt slow, or setbacks felt discouraging. There were times when I felt like I was failing or would not recover, but she helped minimize my fears. She listened—truly listened—and offered encouragement that helped me find the strength to keep going.

What stood out most was how attentively Marie watched over me. She noticed the small improvements in my condition and made sure they were celebrated. Even when she was not assigned to me, she would stop in and see how I was doing, asking me how my therapy sessions went, and helping me see my gains.

Marie also showed me how to advocate for myself. With inpatient intensive therapy, you are allotted only so many days before insurance starts to question your progress. She encouraged me to continue to fight to stay longer, knowing that the more intensive therapy I received, the better the long-term outcomes.

She helped me set my goals. When I first arrived, I was told by many people that I would likely leave the hospital in a wheelchair. She was the one who said, “No, your goal is to walk out of here on your own.” She told me not to accept anything less, and I didn’t.

Recovering from GBS requires trust—trust that the care team understands the complexity of the illness and trust that someone will be there when your body cannot respond the way you want it to. Marie earned that trust every single day through her professionalism, calm presence, unwavering compassion, and sense of humor.

Because of Marie, my hospital experience was not defined solely by fear and uncertainty, but by hope, humanity, and healing. Her care had a lasting impact on my recovery. I am deeply grateful for the role she played during one of the most difficult times of my life.

Because of her and the care of all of the professionals at MedStar, I met the goal she helped me set - - I walked out of that hospital!

Marie truly exemplifies the spirit of the DAISY Award, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.