DAISY Award—Kayla Swank, B.S.N., RN

Kayla Swank, B.S.N., RN
Davis 5 Neonatal Units

On April 4, 2023 at 3:41 a.m. I delivered my 24 week micropreemie. At 7 a.m., Kayla started her shift and began taking care of our girl. Every day of the 107 days since, Kayla has not only taken the best care of our daughter, but has supported and advocated for our family endlessly. She quickly became our primary nurse, and in the midst of the chaos of the NICU she was our constant, and brought us so much peace. Kayla has the biggest heart for the tiniest of babies, and in a time where as parents we didn’t know where we fit into the picture, she helped us find our place. When our daughter weighed 1 pound and unable to be moved, Kayla taught us ways to be involved with her care and reminded us that even though we weren’t her primary caretakers, even the littlest ways we were involved had a big impact. She helped us find our strength, encouraged us to take care of ourselves, empowered us as parents, and celebrated every tiny victory alongside us. When our daughter was first born, many doctors and nurses reminded us that the odds weren’t in her favor, but Kayla never doubted her strength for a second. She was honest about what was going on with our baby, but always reminded us of her strength and resilience. When our daughter got sick, Kayla caught it before she even showed the signs because she knew her so well. When equipment malfunctioned and we almost lost her, Kayla calmly led the team to keep her safe. We truly believe that her diligence saved our babies life on multiple occasions, and as a new mom navigating a difficult season, her kindness and friendship helped save mine too. Kayla is one of a kind and is beyond deserving of The DAISY award.