DAYTON-- A trauma nurse at Dayton Children's Hospital has been honored with the DAISY Award for her efforts with one patient that went above and beyond the field of healthcare.
Registered Nurse Stephanie Maniaci works with children every day in the hospital's emergency department, but was touched by one boy's story while she was working her regular shift one night during the spring of 2014.
"I just happened to be the one that saw him first and he took my hand and we bonded," Maniaci said.
Hospital representatives confirm the preschool aged boy was brought in by law enforcement from outside Montgomery County, and say a night alone in the ER can be scary for a child especially when they are alone.
Maniaci was there for the boy, when other adults were not.
"He has nobody and we made a bond," she said, "He was nonverbal, and so I feel like establishing trust with him was worth something, and worth his time, and he deserved for someone to stay and have a familiar face."
Maniaci has two small boys of her own, around the same age as the one who was brought to her, so with her kids in mind, she stayed with the patient hours after her shift has ended, until 3:30 in the morning when other family members arrived at the hospital to take custody of her special new friend.
"After when he left, I cried my eyes out, and I have an hour drive home and I'm pretty sure I cried the whole way," said Maniaci, "But I was happy he was in good hands."
After the encounter, it was back to work for usual for Maniaci, until she was surprised this week with the DAISY award, presented to nurses who show extraordinary compassion.
"There are so many incredible nurses here for them to pick me, and one thing I did when all of these nurses do incredible things every day," she explained humbly.
Maciani said after all was said and done, her efforts felt just like another days work for any pediatric nurse.
"I think if any human saw someone else that needed love, they would do the exact same thing," she said.
To nominate a nurse who has shown efforts like Stephanie Maniaci, click HERE.
Registered Nurse Stephanie Maniaci works with children every day in the hospital's emergency department, but was touched by one boy's story while she was working her regular shift one night during the spring of 2014.
"I just happened to be the one that saw him first and he took my hand and we bonded," Maniaci said.
Hospital representatives confirm the preschool aged boy was brought in by law enforcement from outside Montgomery County, and say a night alone in the ER can be scary for a child especially when they are alone.
Maniaci was there for the boy, when other adults were not.
"He has nobody and we made a bond," she said, "He was nonverbal, and so I feel like establishing trust with him was worth something, and worth his time, and he deserved for someone to stay and have a familiar face."
Maniaci has two small boys of her own, around the same age as the one who was brought to her, so with her kids in mind, she stayed with the patient hours after her shift has ended, until 3:30 in the morning when other family members arrived at the hospital to take custody of her special new friend.
"After when he left, I cried my eyes out, and I have an hour drive home and I'm pretty sure I cried the whole way," said Maniaci, "But I was happy he was in good hands."
After the encounter, it was back to work for usual for Maniaci, until she was surprised this week with the DAISY award, presented to nurses who show extraordinary compassion.
"There are so many incredible nurses here for them to pick me, and one thing I did when all of these nurses do incredible things every day," she explained humbly.
Maciani said after all was said and done, her efforts felt just like another days work for any pediatric nurse.
"I think if any human saw someone else that needed love, they would do the exact same thing," she said.
To nominate a nurse who has shown efforts like Stephanie Maniaci, click HERE.