At the beginning of one of my shifts, I was assigned to care for a newborn on comfort care. I have had similar assignments before, but this one stayed with me. This beautiful, full-term baby looked perfect, but he was suffering—struggling to breathe, gasping for air. It was the first time in my career that I had to administer morphine for respiratory distress. Throughout the night, I was in and out of the room every 15 minutes, either giving medication or checking respirations, only stepping away briefly to the supply room to escape the reality of what was happening. After twelve hours of physical and emotional exhaustion, the baby passed away at 7:30 a.m. 
 
That night broke me. I felt like I had failed, and I carried the weight of it in silence. Weeks turned into months, and I was losing myself. The anniversary of that patient’s passing brought everything back, and I began experiencing panic attacks, vivid memories of that night, and overwhelming thoughts of failure. I was in the darkest place I had ever been. I felt paralyzed by time. It was beginning to spill into my personal life—so much so that my six-year-old noticed me crying and asked what was wrong. That was the moment I knew I couldn’t keep going like this, and I needed to reach out. 
 
I turned to Stephanie. The moment I contacted her, she immediately responded and offered to meet, even outside of work, if that would help. That alone spoke volumes about her compassion and commitment. When we met, she gave me two full hours of her time. She let me speak openly, validated every feeling, and shared her own experiences to help me realize I wasn’t alone. For the first time in months, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I walked into her office prepared to leave the unit—and even nursing altogether. I walked out with hope. Hope that I could keep doing what I love. Hope that I could heal. Hope that I wasn’t broken beyond repair. 
 
Stephanie’s support gave me light again. She not only encouraged me to take steps toward healing but also reminded me why I became a nurse in the first place. Working on a unit where we face heartbreaking losses is incredibly difficult, especially when it involves newborns. Yet, our team stays—and that is because of Stephanie. She creates an environment where we feel supported, valued, and cared for, even in the hardest moments. 
 
Stephanie is one of the kindest and most genuine people I’ve ever met. She leads with compassion, strength, and humility, and she inspires others to be better—both as nurses and as people. I am forever grateful for her, and I truly believe she embodies everything the DAISY Award represents.