I was part of the medical care team in care of a very young man who had suffered brain damage, then ultimately had been declared brain dead. His family was devastated, as you might imagine, and their loss could be felt by the entire staff. We learned that he also had 2 very young children. Marissa's heart is very big, and her advocacy for her patients is even greater. She chose to do something for this family that would have a lifelong impact and gracefully included her co-workers in her efforts. She went to a store that sold Build-A-Bears, purchased 2 cute bears, 2 recording devices, clothes, and an additional gift card for more clothes, and brought them to the hospital. She used a Doppler to record this patient's heartbeat onto the small recording devices that she placed inside each bear. She also retrieved some materials that contained the patients' scent and somehow attached them to the bears as well. I wish I had been able to see her present these items to the family so these 2 small children could have a forever real memory of their father. I found this to be a stunning, selfless, generous gesture as well as a sacred encounter.

In addition to this act, I'm sure she has done many silent, award-worthy acts on behalf of her co-workers, patients, and their families - one of which is described below. Marissa is an extraordinary ICU RN and has put much effort and many hours into organizing the 'heartbeat in a jar' - which is a small glass jar with a paper strip of a patient's heart rhythm in it to give to the families of patients who are soon to pass away. This gifting process has become so honored and valued that it's routinely done as if it were a policy.

Without a doubt in my mind, I am honored to nominate Marissa for a DAISY Award.