Morgan Galloway-Parson
June 2026
Morgan
Galloway-Parson
,
BSN, CCRN
CICU
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Atlanta
,
GA
United States
For 26 hours, she didn't eat, didn't drink, and never once stepped away.
I had the privilege of working alongside this nurse during our medical mission trip to Nigeria with Hospitals for Humanity, where we (a team from CHOA CICU) provided free cardiac surgeries and critical care to children who otherwise might never receive treatment. Even in an environment that challenged every part of us, she stood out in a way I will never forget.
On her very first shift, a child went into cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, this nurse jumped in, performing compressions while simultaneously managing medications. She was focused, calm, and completely locked in on giving that child a fighting chance. The next day, she stepped in again during another code, this time helping the local nursing team by assigning roles and taking over compressions. She balanced leadership and hands-on care in a way that lifted the entire room.
What she did on her third day is something I still don't know how to put into words. This nurse worked for 26 straight hours. She started in the ICU, moved to the Cath lab for an emergency where she helped resuscitate a critically ill patient, then rode in an ambulance back to the hospital while pushing blood and fluids to keep that child alive. Once in the OR, she spent another four hours continuing to resuscitate, manage fluids, and give everything she had. After surgery, she brought the patient back to the ICU, settled her in, and made sure every detail of her care was handled. That patient is alive today because of the sacrifice she made.
For 26 hours, she didn't eat, didn't drink, and never once stepped away. Her only focus was her patient's life. She showed a level of dedication, skill, and courage that you simply don't see every day. These children were strangers to us, but this nurse cared for each of them like they were her own.
She didn't just provide excellent nursing care. She offered strength, calm, and compassion in moments when everything felt uncertain. She made a difference that mattered, one that will stay with the families we served and with everyone who watched her work.
There is no one more deserving of the DAISY Award. She is the kind of nurse who changes outcomes, changes environments, and changes people. I'm grateful I had the chance to witness what extraordinary nursing truly looks like.
On her very first shift, a child went into cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, this nurse jumped in, performing compressions while simultaneously managing medications. She was focused, calm, and completely locked in on giving that child a fighting chance. The next day, she stepped in again during another code, this time helping the local nursing team by assigning roles and taking over compressions. She balanced leadership and hands-on care in a way that lifted the entire room.
What she did on her third day is something I still don't know how to put into words. This nurse worked for 26 straight hours. She started in the ICU, moved to the Cath lab for an emergency where she helped resuscitate a critically ill patient, then rode in an ambulance back to the hospital while pushing blood and fluids to keep that child alive. Once in the OR, she spent another four hours continuing to resuscitate, manage fluids, and give everything she had. After surgery, she brought the patient back to the ICU, settled her in, and made sure every detail of her care was handled. That patient is alive today because of the sacrifice she made.
For 26 hours, she didn't eat, didn't drink, and never once stepped away. Her only focus was her patient's life. She showed a level of dedication, skill, and courage that you simply don't see every day. These children were strangers to us, but this nurse cared for each of them like they were her own.
She didn't just provide excellent nursing care. She offered strength, calm, and compassion in moments when everything felt uncertain. She made a difference that mattered, one that will stay with the families we served and with everyone who watched her work.
There is no one more deserving of the DAISY Award. She is the kind of nurse who changes outcomes, changes environments, and changes people. I'm grateful I had the chance to witness what extraordinary nursing truly looks like.