Our son L was just a baby when he was admitted to the Pediatric Cardiac Step-Down Unit at Duke Central Tower. He had been diagnosed with failure to thrive caused by a large ventricular septal defect (VSD), and we were preparing for open-heart surgery. It was, without question, the most terrifying and vulnerable time of our lives.

That’s when we met Olivia. From the moment she entered our room, Olivia brought a calm, steady presence that felt like a lifeline. She didn’t just care for L — she connected with him. She treated him like a whole person, not just a patient. She explained every tube, every medication, every beep of the monitor, in a way we could understand. She never made us feel like a burden for asking questions. Instead, she made us feel empowered — like we were part of the team fighting for our son.

But it was her compassion that truly changed everything.

The night before his surgery, when the fear felt unbearable, Olivia stayed after her shift just to sit with us. She hugged us, listened as we cried, and reminded us that we weren’t alone. She wasn’t assigned to us anymore — she chose to stay. She chose to care.

And even after surgery, when L was in recovery, and no longer under her care, Olivia still came to visit us — on her own time, after hours. She checked in on us not as a nurse, but as someone who had become part of our family in those sacred, difficult moments.

Olivia went far beyond the responsibilities of her role. Her compassion, her attention to emotional well-being, and her unwavering support made a permanent mark on our hearts. In a place that could have felt cold and clinical, Olivia brought humanity, dignity, and love."