It wasn’t until about the 36-hour mark in our stay at Children’s when we met Eli. He was our second nurse after our 2-month-old was transferred to the PICU with an array of confusing symptoms causing him great discomfort.

My wife and I were exhausted and heartbroken to witness a day and a half of poking and prodding our sweet, helpless baby with no result or effect. He kept getting worse, and we were only further ruling out causes rather than finding solutions. Which I understand, that’s just good medicine.

Our spirits were at rock bottom. Let me be clear in saying, there are no bad nurses or doctors at Seattle Children’s. Everyone here is a blessing to their community and a pillar of excellence in healthcare. To stand above and beyond the expectations that Children’s has set for their staff speaks volumes to the quality that an individual must exemplify. Eli was just that.

We never once felt the need to further advocate for our son. Eli was the first advocate. We never once looked around in a moment of need for Eli. It was as if he premeditated our every need. On two specific occasions, my eyes welled with tears seeing the kind and gentle bedside manner Eli exhibited to my son. My son, who was swollen, rash-covered, and unrecognizable beneath the litany of medical devices attached to provide life-saving care.

Eli treated him as his own and provided indescribable comfort to my wife and me in the most difficult moment of our paternal experience. It is with great appreciation that I write this recommendation for Eli McMillan to receive the DAISY Award. If he doesn’t, it would mean the world to our family if this appreciation could at least be shared with him.

Thank you, Eli.