I am writing this to nominate Summer Smith for the DAISY Award. Our mother was recently admitted after experiencing a life-changing stroke. Her nurse cared for her with exceptional compassion and professionalism. What stood out the most was preserving my mother’s dignity. Even when she was weak and having speech deficits, her nurses spoke directly to her, held her hand to comfort her, and always made sure she was positioned comfortably and clean. It may seem small to others, but it meant everything to our family to see her treated with such respect.

There was one particular day when my mother was feeling very down about their deficits, and Summer encouraged her and reminded her of each small progress made, which gently motivated her to continue to see the progress. That encouragement sparked hope when we needed it most. My mother recounted how Summer stayed by her side when she was feeling the most down and helpless. My mother told us that no matter how much grief and bad attitude she gave her, Summer gave her a continuous warm smile and rubbed her head until she fell asleep, and was very attentive to her needs. Although our mother has now passed away, she requested that our family make sure Summer got recognition. Summer should know she made an exceedingly strong impact on our mother during her stay. Our family is truly grateful to know she had such a great light during her darkest time.