March 2026 Honoree
Selma Sebastian, Bachelor
My son has been critically ill in this PICU for more than 3 months, living with a complex multisystem autoimmune condition. These have been some of the most frightening days and nights of my life. Through it all, one nurse has stood out as a source of skill, advocacy, and light.
Even on the days she is assigned to other patients, Selma finds her way to our room to check on my son and on me. She jokes and laughs from her heart and lifts my spirits even when my son’s condition looks its most dire; even in the soul-crushing hours of a night-time crisis, when fear is heaviest, she is never too busy for my worry. She always listens patiently, attentively, and makes me feel I am not alone.
Selma’s nursing skills and compassionate care are outstanding. She doesn’t simply meet my son’s needs on time - she anticipates them, so nothing is ever missed under her care. When something goes wrong on a night shift, when the doctors are stretched and overwhelmed, Selma follows up on every update, responds meaningfully, carries my concerns to the attending doctor, brings answers, and facilitates solutions. Her advocacy is what turned my fears into timely interventions. She steps in to help her fellow nurses too - she lifts the whole team.
Selma’s personality is always so radiant! Even under pressure I can barely stand, she is always smiling, always finding a reason to laugh, lightening the room when everyone is exhausted and afraid.
Selma and I share beautiful, memorable stories about her home country, a place I love after spending some time there. Her care has held me up in my darkest, most hopeless, frightening moments in this hospital; one night, when there was fresh blood flowing in my son’s line, with no one who could keep up with the doctor all night, she patiently helped find a huge clot obstructing the catheter and helped find solutions and interventions addressing the problem in the midst of a very busy night shift.
She was on duty with another patient, but she helped my son, comforting me continuously while helping identify and address the problem, while holding me up emotionally.
Nurses like her who bring genuine, unwavering humanity to the bedside in addition to exceptional skill - are exactly who the DAISY Award was created to honor.
It would mean everything to our family to see her recognised.
This DAISY Award carries special meaning for our family. The person the award is dedicated to was suffering from the same condition as my son.
Even on the days she is assigned to other patients, Selma finds her way to our room to check on my son and on me. She jokes and laughs from her heart and lifts my spirits even when my son’s condition looks its most dire; even in the soul-crushing hours of a night-time crisis, when fear is heaviest, she is never too busy for my worry. She always listens patiently, attentively, and makes me feel I am not alone.
Selma’s nursing skills and compassionate care are outstanding. She doesn’t simply meet my son’s needs on time - she anticipates them, so nothing is ever missed under her care. When something goes wrong on a night shift, when the doctors are stretched and overwhelmed, Selma follows up on every update, responds meaningfully, carries my concerns to the attending doctor, brings answers, and facilitates solutions. Her advocacy is what turned my fears into timely interventions. She steps in to help her fellow nurses too - she lifts the whole team.
Selma’s personality is always so radiant! Even under pressure I can barely stand, she is always smiling, always finding a reason to laugh, lightening the room when everyone is exhausted and afraid.
Selma and I share beautiful, memorable stories about her home country, a place I love after spending some time there. Her care has held me up in my darkest, most hopeless, frightening moments in this hospital; one night, when there was fresh blood flowing in my son’s line, with no one who could keep up with the doctor all night, she patiently helped find a huge clot obstructing the catheter and helped find solutions and interventions addressing the problem in the midst of a very busy night shift.
She was on duty with another patient, but she helped my son, comforting me continuously while helping identify and address the problem, while holding me up emotionally.
Nurses like her who bring genuine, unwavering humanity to the bedside in addition to exceptional skill - are exactly who the DAISY Award was created to honor.
It would mean everything to our family to see her recognised.
This DAISY Award carries special meaning for our family. The person the award is dedicated to was suffering from the same condition as my son.
Thank you, Selma, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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