Anna Schilling
August 2025
Anna
Schilling
,
RN
HOPS
Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
Cleveland
,
OH
United States
In a unit where everyone seemed to be having their best day, Anna still managed to shine the brightest. That speaks volumes about who she is, not just as a nurse, but as a person.
I recently underwent a liver biopsy at the Cleveland Clinic. I have cirrhosis and possibly a lot of other health challenges, so needless to say, hospital visits aren’t new to me. What was new was the incredible experience I had with the entire staff that day. From the moment I arrived, everyone seemed genuinely kind, upbeat, and supportive, like they had all just come back from the best lunch ever, despite it being 7 a.m. It was such a refreshing change from my usual experiences, where I often encounter staff who are clearly having a rough day.
After my procedure, I was lucky enough to be cared for by Anna. She was incredibly kind, compassionate, and informative. She took extra time to make sure I fully understood how to care for myself after the procedure. And in one of those moments that many might shy away from, she held a bedpan for me because I was on strict bed rest and couldn’t get up. That alone showed such dignity and grace. But what truly stood out to me was how Anna managed the care of all of us in the unit.
It wasn’t just that she was doing her job; she seemed genuinely happy to be there and to care for each of us. If she needed to step away to help the young woman beside me or the older gentleman across the hall, she would gently let me know, “Hey, I have to go next door real fast, but if you need anything, I’m right there, okay?” It might sound small, but it made such a huge difference.
Many times in the hospital, nurses have to leave abruptly to care for someone else, which is totally understandable, but Anna’s simple heads-up gave me such peace of mind. I don’t have a dramatic, life-or-death story to tell. This was simply Anna being Anna. But in a unit where everyone seemed to be having their best day, Anna still managed to shine the brightest.
That speaks volumes about who she is, not just as a nurse, but as a person. If my fairly routine experience felt this exceptional, I can only imagine the difference Anna makes for patients who are truly at their lowest. She is a gift to her patients and fully deserving of this DAISY Award.
After my procedure, I was lucky enough to be cared for by Anna. She was incredibly kind, compassionate, and informative. She took extra time to make sure I fully understood how to care for myself after the procedure. And in one of those moments that many might shy away from, she held a bedpan for me because I was on strict bed rest and couldn’t get up. That alone showed such dignity and grace. But what truly stood out to me was how Anna managed the care of all of us in the unit.
It wasn’t just that she was doing her job; she seemed genuinely happy to be there and to care for each of us. If she needed to step away to help the young woman beside me or the older gentleman across the hall, she would gently let me know, “Hey, I have to go next door real fast, but if you need anything, I’m right there, okay?” It might sound small, but it made such a huge difference.
Many times in the hospital, nurses have to leave abruptly to care for someone else, which is totally understandable, but Anna’s simple heads-up gave me such peace of mind. I don’t have a dramatic, life-or-death story to tell. This was simply Anna being Anna. But in a unit where everyone seemed to be having their best day, Anna still managed to shine the brightest.
That speaks volumes about who she is, not just as a nurse, but as a person. If my fairly routine experience felt this exceptional, I can only imagine the difference Anna makes for patients who are truly at their lowest. She is a gift to her patients and fully deserving of this DAISY Award.