It isn’t often that you get the chance to tell a “stranger” that you have thought about them over the past 16 years and that they have become part of your family’s life story. It’s even more rare when that same “stranger” becomes part of your life story for a second time.

In August of 2009, my father ended up at EGH and became critically and unexpectedly ill. What started out as chest pain progressed to unknown lung issues. Over several weeks, we watched as the doctor worked diligently to diagnose the illness. It became increasingly difficult for my dad to breathe. When the nasal cannula wasn’t sufficient, he was hooked up to a BiPAP machine. Eventually, he was placed on a ventilator – never to recover. During the long days we spent at the hospital, we became familiar with the nurses. They were all kind and knowledgeable, but one nurse stood out as our favorite. Vallie had a special quality about her. She had a calm and comforting presence, and we trusted her fully. She consistently demonstrated compassion, not only for my dad, but for us as a family. It was a scary time, and we looked to her for explanations and understanding about what was happening. She always made time for us, despite the many demands that come with caring for critical patients. I know that I speak not only for myself, but also for my mom and four siblings, when I say that we absolutely felt that she treated my dad as if he were her family member. We were always relieved to see that Vallie was his nurse. As he became more ill, it was comforting to us to know that he was in good hands. I’m sure that Vallie does not remember that she was his nurse on that day he was placed on what we thought would be a temporary ventilator, but I have thought about it nearly every day since September 2009. I believe that she was in the room when we said our brought us comfort over the last 16 years was knowing that Vallie was his nurse that day and was likely the last person he saw before he was sedated. It has brought healing to know that the last face my dad saw was the face of compassion, kindness, knowledge, and expertise.

Our daughter recently received her nursing license and was crushed when she lost her first hospice patient. She began questioning many aspects, including whether she would continue in her field. I told her about Vallie and how important she was to our family, and how my dad had many nurses during his stay, but that one special nurse remains a part of our life story. Vallie is that nurse. One nurse can, and did, make an impact in the lives of others. Certain moments of my dad’s final days are like snapshots in my mind, and Vallie is in those snapshots, with her tenderness, compassion, wisdom, and calm, gentle nature.

As expected, so much transpired with his sudden passing, and we never adequately thanked Vallie for taking such good care of my dad. We have thought of her often over the years. Imagine my surprise when I ran into her recently on a different floor. When my husband was called back to be prepped for his port placement surgery, the nurse who greeted us with a warm smile had a name tag that read Vallie. I had never forgotten her name over the years and couldn’t help but wonder if this was the same “Vallie.” She demonstrated the same kindness, professionalism, assurance, and compassion towards my husband that she did with my father. I knew it had to be her! I was able to share with her how much she still means to us as a family, thanks to the care she showed our dad, and I had just been talking about her. During my dad’s illness, as well as my husband’s cancer diagnosis, I’ve tried to find beauty in unexpected places. I’ve been able to find the beauty in the caring, compassionate nature of Vallie. She’s like a daisy that pops up unexpectedly in the middle of a gray concrete sidewalk. It’s taken me nearly 16 years, but I would like to nominate Vallie for the Daisy Award. She made a profound difference in our lives.