Melanie Ropski
August 2025
Melanie
Ropski
,
BSN, RNC-NIC
NICU
Advocate Children's Hospital
Park Ridge
,
IL
United States
She didn’t just care for our daughter; she supported me and our entire family emotionally, day in and day out.
Some people come into your life and change it forever. Melanie is one of those people.
When she became our daughter’s daytime nurse, she brought warmth, light, and care far beyond expectations. She wasn’t just a nurse; she became a constant source of comfort, joy, and strength for our entire family.
Melanie has the most compassionate heart, the biggest smile, and a positive attitude that is simply contagious. She had a unique way of making even the longest, hardest days feel a little lighter. She always found ways to make the mundane meaningful through a kind word, a gentle reassurance, or a funny moment that made us laugh when we needed it most.
She didn’t just care for our daughter; she supported me and our entire family emotionally, day in and day out.
One small gesture Melanie made will stay with me forever. As our daughter was weaning off powerful medications, she began experiencing painful and distressing withdrawal symptoms. Without hesitation, Melanie walked to each nurse in our pod and asked if we could turn off the lights for the rest of the afternoon to help soothe and calm her. That single, thoughtful act spoke volumes about how deeply she cared—not only for the clinical aspects of healing, but for our daughter’s emotional and sensory needs as well.
Melanie was there for so many pivotal moments, including both of our daughters’ surgeries, standing beside us as she met family members, and celebrating with us on discharge day. She was our biggest cheerleader and our fiercest supporter through every high and every low. She worked hand-in-hand with us, taught us critical care skills like how to place an NG tube, and walked us through the overwhelming discharge checklist with calm, reassuring confidence. She made sure our voices were heard, our concerns addressed, and that we felt truly prepared to take our daughter home.
But her impact didn’t end when we left the hospital. Melanie never left our side. She still checks in, celebrates our daughter’s milestones, and remains a steady presence in our lives. Our daughter remembers her. She knows and loves the people who took care of her, and Melanie is someone she will never forget.
Melanie made us feel safe, respected, and cared for in every possible way, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Her love, compassion, and dedication transformed our journey, and we are forever grateful to have had her by our side.
She is the very definition of a DAISY Nurse.
When she became our daughter’s daytime nurse, she brought warmth, light, and care far beyond expectations. She wasn’t just a nurse; she became a constant source of comfort, joy, and strength for our entire family.
Melanie has the most compassionate heart, the biggest smile, and a positive attitude that is simply contagious. She had a unique way of making even the longest, hardest days feel a little lighter. She always found ways to make the mundane meaningful through a kind word, a gentle reassurance, or a funny moment that made us laugh when we needed it most.
She didn’t just care for our daughter; she supported me and our entire family emotionally, day in and day out.
One small gesture Melanie made will stay with me forever. As our daughter was weaning off powerful medications, she began experiencing painful and distressing withdrawal symptoms. Without hesitation, Melanie walked to each nurse in our pod and asked if we could turn off the lights for the rest of the afternoon to help soothe and calm her. That single, thoughtful act spoke volumes about how deeply she cared—not only for the clinical aspects of healing, but for our daughter’s emotional and sensory needs as well.
Melanie was there for so many pivotal moments, including both of our daughters’ surgeries, standing beside us as she met family members, and celebrating with us on discharge day. She was our biggest cheerleader and our fiercest supporter through every high and every low. She worked hand-in-hand with us, taught us critical care skills like how to place an NG tube, and walked us through the overwhelming discharge checklist with calm, reassuring confidence. She made sure our voices were heard, our concerns addressed, and that we felt truly prepared to take our daughter home.
But her impact didn’t end when we left the hospital. Melanie never left our side. She still checks in, celebrates our daughter’s milestones, and remains a steady presence in our lives. Our daughter remembers her. She knows and loves the people who took care of her, and Melanie is someone she will never forget.
Melanie made us feel safe, respected, and cared for in every possible way, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Her love, compassion, and dedication transformed our journey, and we are forever grateful to have had her by our side.
She is the very definition of a DAISY Nurse.