Ava is walking sunshine. From the moment she began caring for my mom in the burn unit — where she stayed for over six weeks — Ava went above and beyond in every possible way. She was my mom’s fiercest advocate, springing into action when physical complications arose and always anticipating what might be needed next. But what really set Ava apart was her attentiveness to the emotional toll of a long hospital stay. She recognized that my mom was struggling after so many weeks in a hospital bed and took the initiative to connect us with mental health support—something that made a meaningful difference and that we, honestly, wouldn’t have thought to ask for on our own. Nothing was too small for Ava to care about. She took time to toast my mom’s sandwich bread just to make meals a little more appealing when her appetite was low. She explained complex medical updates to our entire family with clarity and patience, at a time when most of us were too stressed to even know what questions to ask. While other staff sometimes seemed in the dark about my mom’s case, Ava always knew exactly what was going on, why it was happening, and what came next. She made us feel seen and cared for — not just as patients, but as people. She showed genuine interest in our family, brought humor and grace into the room, and offered deep compassion on the hardest days. She also knew exactly when to gently push my mom to begin physical therapy, encouraging her to move and practice so she could prevent contractures and reclaim some independence. I always felt reassured knowing Ava was with my mom, especially when I couldn’t be. She brought comfort, clarity, and so much heart to a really painful time in our lives. No one deserves a DAISY award more than Ava.