A Heart That Heals: Honoring Kaitlin Wakefield’s DAISY Award Nomination
At Jackson Nurse Professionals, we believe nursing is more than a career, it’s a calling. It’s the quiet strength in a crisis, the gentle voice in a storm, and the steady hand that reaches out when everything feels uncertain. One recent DAISY Award nomination reminded us of this truth in the most profound way—and today, we are honored to share that story.
On March 28, 2025, Jim Theriault wrote a letter about the care his wife, Alexandra, received at the Northern Light ICU in Bangor, Maine. Alexandra had been urgently transferred from Maine General’s ICU in Augusta. Her condition was critical. She was fully intubated and unable to communicate. Like so many families facing moments of uncertainty, Jim found himself in a hospital room filled with fear, fragile hope, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
And in the middle of it all stood Kaitlin Wakefield, RN.
Jim writes that while many skilled and compassionate professionals cared for Alexandra, it was Kaitlin’s presence that left an unforgettable mark on his heart.
Kaitlin didn’t just administer care—she connected. She took the time to speak gently to Alexandra, even when it wasn’t clear if she could hear or respond. She treated her not as a diagnosis, but as a whole person. “Kaitlin treated and cared for Alex as if she were her mother,” Jim wrote. “For this, Alex and I were most blessed.”
But Kaitlin’s care didn’t stop at the bedside. She extended her compassion to Jim—a husband navigating one of the most painful and uncertain moments of his life. Having spent 23 years as a guardian to his brain-injured brother, Jim was no stranger to the healthcare system. But nothing could prepare him for the emotional weight of seeing his wife in such a vulnerable state. Kaitlin, along with fellow caregivers Lauren and Emily, met him with empathy, patience, and a calming presence. She not only explained what was happening in clear, compassionate terms—she helped him find the words to comfort his family.
Jim writes, “Kaitlin has the ability to make complex information understandable, which is a rare gift and a blessing without measure.”
He went on to reflect on the kind of care that transcends clinical excellence—the care rooted in humanity. He referenced the eight servant leadership traits—respect, kindness, patience, forgiveness, humility, selflessness, honesty, and commitment—and said Kaitlin embodied them all. In his words, she deserves an “A+” for the way she led with heart, even in the face of challenge.
“To witness someone not just doing their job, but doing it with deep, personal compassion, it’s something you never forget,” Jim wrote. “She is indeed a credit to herself and the organization she serves.”
At Jackson Nurse Professionals, stories like this are why we exist. Because we know that one nurse can change everything. In a moment of darkness, a nurse like Kaitlin becomes the light; reassuring, supporting, and healing in every sense of the word.
To Kaitlin: thank you for being that light. Thank you for showing us what it truly means to care. You may have thought you were just doing your job, but to Jim and Alexandra, you were doing so much more. You gave them hope. You gave them peace. You gave them the rare and sacred gift of being seen, heard, and held in the hardest of moments.
This is what nursing looks like. And we’re honored to celebrate it.
