No words will ever fully capture what Kade meant to our family during the most painful days of our lives. From the very beginning, Kade treated Colton as so much more than a patient. He took the time to truly know him—and us. He listened to our stories, asked about Colton, laughed with us, and cried with us.

In moments when our world felt unbearably heavy, he somehow managed to bring light and gentle humor without ever minimizing our pain. Kade gave us his full heart. He sat with us when we needed someone to sit. He hugged us when words weren’t enough. He stayed present in ways that went far beyond his role as a nurse.

When we asked about getting a recording of Colton’s heartbeat, he immediately understood how important that was to us and worked to make it happen. That recording is now one of our most treasured pieces of Colton—something we will carry with us forever. During our stay and especially during Colton’s final moments, Kade was our advocate, our guide, and our steady support.

In Colton’s final moments, Kade ensured that our son was treated with dignity, tenderness, and love. His care was not only clinically excellent, but profoundly human. He held space for our grief, honored our bond as a family, and made sure Colton was surrounded by compassion until the very end.

What stands out most is that Kade did not just care for Colton—he cared for us. He saw our grief, met it with compassion, and never once made us feel rushed, ignored, or like “just another family.” Colton mattered to him, and that truth will stay with us always. We will never forget the role Kade played in our lives. His kindness did not take away our pain—but it carried us through it. He is everything the DAISY Award represents, and we are forever grateful for the care he gave our son and our family. Because of him, Colton’s life—and his passing—were surrounded by love.