After a tragic car accident and emergency spine surgery that left me paraplegic, my entire world changed in an instant. I was scared and frustrated, trying to process what my life would look like moving forward. Ricardo was there for me when I needed someone the most. He truly listened to me. He made me feel comfortable enough to share my fears and frustrations, and he never rushed me or made me feel like just another patient. He took excellent care of me medically, but what set him apart was the way he treated me as a person. Ricardo became an instant friend. He took the time to get to know me, my family, and my kids. He encouraged me when I was struggling and helped me feel human again during a time when everything felt overwhelming and uncertain. In a moment when I felt like I had lost control of my body and my future, Ricardo gave me something incredibly important: dignity, compassion, and hope. His presence made a life-altering hospitalization more bearable, and I will never forget the impact he had on me. Ricardo represents everything a nurse should be. I am deeply grateful for the care he gave me and proud to nominate him for the DAISY Award.

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When my husband's entire world shattered after a tragic car accident that required emergency spine surgery and resulted in paraplegia, we were overwhelmed, frightened, and grieving a life that changed in an instant. In the middle of that devastation, Ricardo became a steady and compassionate presence when my husband needed it most in just one night. Ricardo didn't just care for my husband medically; he truly listened to him. He talked to him like a longtime friend, not just a patient. He acknowledged his frustrations after a very difficult experience earlier in his hospitalization. Ricardo helped restore my husband's dignity and made him feel seen and heard again. They joked and talked about things my husband enjoys. They shared stories, and he encouraged my husband to get back to those things.

We were unsure if we would see Ricardo again because my husband was being transferred. But we did, and Ricardo went above and beyond in a way we will never forget. He brought my husband a Christmas gift. Something he can use on his long road to recovery. In the midst of the holidays, while facing a life-altering injury, that act of kindness meant everything. I have only seen my husband cry a few times in our 19 years together, and he cried then. Not from sadness, but because Ricardo made him feel valued, cared for, and human during one of the darkest moments of his life. Ricardo's personality, compassion, and professionalism are truly top-notch. He turned what could have been only a painful and traumatic hospital experience into one where my husband felt respected and supported. Even with so many downs, Ricardo made my husband's experience at UH a good one, and that is something we will always be grateful for. Thank you, Ricardo, for treating my husband not just as a patient, but as a person and a friend.