September 2026 Honoree
Morgan Elliott, RN
I found myself being admitted with appendicitis, expecting surgery in the morning. I was just 22 and in grad school and came to the hospital with a friend, but I was anxious and had never been admitted before. Immediately, Morgan Elliott met me in the hall before I even got in the room, introduced herself, and walked me through every step of the evening. She approached me with such kindness that I immediately felt at ease.
In the morning before she left, she came in and spoke such truth to me as I waited alone for surgery with my parents driving 5 hours, hoping to make it in time. At this point, I hadn’t slept and told her my mind was running in every direction that night. She looked at me before leaving and told me how strong I was and that I was in the best hands possible. She told me she would be back that night and would see me after surgery and that she would be saying a prayer for me while she was home. She also left me with some humor, encouraging me to actually use my call light because I didn’t want to bother the nurses, but while she joked with me about actually using it, she also truly reminded me that everyone is here to care and help.
After having surgery during the day, Morgan returned as my night shift nurse the second night. The moment she walked into my room, she came right beside my bed, grabbed my hand, and told me how proud she was of me. She looked at me through the pain and uncertainty and told me what she was certain of: she was certain I did it, and her telling me this shifted my whole mindset that night. This shift not only made me feel safe and comfortable, but let me sleep, something that did not happen my first night.
Across my 4-day stay and surgery, I just kept thinking about how kind Morgan was to me and how much peace she brought to me in a time of chaos and fear. What she did may not have seemed like much out of the ordinary for her, but it was everything to me. Her warmth, kindness, patience, and encouragement helped me heal not just physically but mentally through a challenging trial. I left the hospital and came home wishing I could have thanked her more, and I just kept thinking that if anyone deserves a DAISY Award, it is Morgan, not just because of my 2 days with her, but because I could tell this is how she always is. At no point did I feel she was putting on an act for me, or just trying to get through her shift. Looking back on a challenging time, I take so much comfort in being able to leave with such a positive experience due to Morgan’s kindness.
In the morning before she left, she came in and spoke such truth to me as I waited alone for surgery with my parents driving 5 hours, hoping to make it in time. At this point, I hadn’t slept and told her my mind was running in every direction that night. She looked at me before leaving and told me how strong I was and that I was in the best hands possible. She told me she would be back that night and would see me after surgery and that she would be saying a prayer for me while she was home. She also left me with some humor, encouraging me to actually use my call light because I didn’t want to bother the nurses, but while she joked with me about actually using it, she also truly reminded me that everyone is here to care and help.
After having surgery during the day, Morgan returned as my night shift nurse the second night. The moment she walked into my room, she came right beside my bed, grabbed my hand, and told me how proud she was of me. She looked at me through the pain and uncertainty and told me what she was certain of: she was certain I did it, and her telling me this shifted my whole mindset that night. This shift not only made me feel safe and comfortable, but let me sleep, something that did not happen my first night.
Across my 4-day stay and surgery, I just kept thinking about how kind Morgan was to me and how much peace she brought to me in a time of chaos and fear. What she did may not have seemed like much out of the ordinary for her, but it was everything to me. Her warmth, kindness, patience, and encouragement helped me heal not just physically but mentally through a challenging trial. I left the hospital and came home wishing I could have thanked her more, and I just kept thinking that if anyone deserves a DAISY Award, it is Morgan, not just because of my 2 days with her, but because I could tell this is how she always is. At no point did I feel she was putting on an act for me, or just trying to get through her shift. Looking back on a challenging time, I take so much comfort in being able to leave with such a positive experience due to Morgan’s kindness.
Thank you, Morgan, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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