I wholeheartedly recommend Michelle Crain for the DAISY Award. A daisy symbolizes cheerfulness, like little suns, and that description fits Michelle perfectly. She is always smiling, kind, and uplifting, and she has a remarkable way of making you feel truly seen, important, heard, and valued. 2026 came in like a lion. Just after Christmas, I suddenly experienced significant muscle weakness and suffered a fall that resulted in an unexpected emergency room visit, a four-day hospital stay, and ultimately a transfer to Baptist Health Encompass Rehab Center for ten days. As one can imagine, this was devastating. I went from being a completely independent 59-year-old who worked daily to being unable to walk, confined to a wheelchair, and fully dependent on others just to get up, use the restroom, or take a shower.

This experience took not only a physical toll on my body, but a profound mental and emotional one as well. My depression and anxiety spiraled, and I found myself in a place I never dreamed I would be. Spiritually and emotionally, daisies represent finding light during hard seasons; choosing to hope when life feels heavy. During this incredibly difficult and life-altering time, Michelle was that shining light. She never once made me feel like a burden. Instead, she encouraged me every step of the way; checking on me often, bringing me water, making sure my meals were adequate, ensuring my needs were met, and constantly reassuring me that I would get better and that I was in the right place to make that happen. Michelle’s soothing tone, words of encouragement, and genuinely caring nature helped guide me through one of the hardest chapters of my life. She helped me begin to see my way forward when everything felt overwhelming and uncertain.

During my stay, a snowstorm dropped approximately ten inches of snow and ice across our state over two days. To ensure she could continue caring for her patients, Michelle stayed in a nearby hotel so she could safely make it to work. She showed up when others had to call in, always with a smile and a kind word to share. There is an old legend that says daisies were created to comfort broken hearts, and that feels especially fitting here. Michelle’s ability to connect with people on a personal level made my stay far less intimidating and far more bearable. Her compassion is genuine, her dedication unwavering, and her care comes straight from the heart. If any nurse deserves the DAISY Award, it is Michelle. She goes above and beyond not because she has to, but because she truly cares, and that is something that simply cannot be faked.