When our son was born at 24 weeks and 4 days, we were traumatized and terrified. We spent the first many weeks in the BIDMC NICU dazed, at best, and often weeping. It is hard to describe the simultaneous elation at being with your much-wanted baby while also fearing the potential of what new challenges each day might bring and the heartache of seeing your tiny child in an isolette, intubated and hooked up to wires and IVs. Things began to change when we met Lizzie - an endlessly kind and capable, soft-spoken, bright young nurse. On Lizzie's days (days when Lizzie was on shift), it was less frightening to walk into the unknowns of the NICU. When we had to leave our precious boy there each night, I felt more at ease knowing she would be with him. In addition to taking impeccable and loving care of our son, Lizzie took the time to connect with and get to know us. She was patient and thorough with ALL our questions, sat with me when I cried (frequently!), and was a steadfast advocate for our family. She helped us create a sense of normalcy, of laughter and friendship and safety, within the beeps and alarms of the hospital. Throughout our long stay, Lizzie decorated our son's hospital room with laminated pictures of his progress.

On our 100th day in the NICU, we came in to find a picture of our son in a handmade crown. While packing our room on the day of our son's discharge, we found that she had written notes of pride, encouragement, and love on the backs of the photos she took of him. The crown (crafted by Lizzie) and these pictures are now a fixture in our home. Ultimately, we spent one hundred and thirty-three days in the BIDMC NICU. While we met and worked with dozens of wonderful nurses, Lizzie is simply extraordinary. These stories - just portions of her work with us, and our amazing, now thriving, son - demonstrate Lizzie's incredible empathy and compassion for others, strength and calm in the face of difficult, heightened emotions, and her ability to stay present and focused when managing huge, life-or-death responsibilities. I like to say that we were so very lucky to leave the hospital with not one, but two new family members: our beautiful son, and Lizzie - our guardian angel. She is a gift to our family, and we credit so much of our son's ongoing success to her! The grueling profession of NICU nursing is better for having her in it. We know, without doubt, that her future patients will be touched by her exemplary hard work and dedication. So here is to Lizzie! An incredible nurse and human. Deserving of countless bouquets of DAISIES!!