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"Caring for a patient also means caring for the people who love them." 

An emotional reunion at an award ceremony — as a patient's loved ones praise a UVA Health University Medical Center nurse for his extraordinary compassion and much more.

UVA Health University Medical Center Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Chair Caitlin Lowman, BSN, RN, CCRN, surprised Travis Grammo, MSN, RN, Thoracic Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (TCV-ICU), with a DAISY Award.

The patient's daughter, Whitney Pippin, nominated Grammo:

"It's difficult to put into words what Travis means to our family. During the most difficult chapter of our lives, he was a caregiver, advocate, teacher, source of strength, source of laughter, and constant presence. My family often says Travis was one of the angels who carried us through those months, and we will never forget him.

"My dad spent three months in TCV-ICU. For much of that time — he was unconscious, lightly sedated, intubated, or struggling with significant anxiety and confusion related to his critical illness. There were multiple times when we were uncertain if he would survive. As a family — we were terrified, overwhelmed, exhausted, and trying to navigate a world of complex procedures, surgeries, medications, and devastating uncertainty. Every day felt like we were living minute to minute.

"From the very beginning, Travis became one of our anchors.

"He had an incredible ability to explain complicated medical information in a way that made sense. He took time to tell us what medications were being given and why. He explained procedures, answered questions patiently, and helped us understand what the physicians and advanced practice providers [APPs] were telling us. He never made us feel like our questions were unimportant. During a time when so much felt out of our control, Travis gave us understanding, confidence, and reassurance.

"What made Travis truly extraordinary? His ability to anticipate what patients and families needed before they knew how to ask for it.

"My dad's original room was near a busy area. Travis recognized this likely was not the best environment for someone experiencing anxiety and confusion related to prolonged critical illness, and helped facilitate a move to a quieter area The room had a view of the mountains and Monticello, where Dad had worked!

"That room became far more important than any of us could have imagined. It provided a calmer environment for my dad, but it also gave our family privacy during the most difficult days of our lives. Travis recognized a need that none of us knew how to articulate and acted on it because he understood that caring for a patient also means caring for the people who love them.

"As my dad slowly became more awake and responsive, Travis found a way to connect with him that perfectly reflected the kind of nurse he is. Knowing that my dad had worked at Monticello, Travis would stop by with random Thomas Jefferson and Monticello trivia questions. These interactions were never part of a treatment plan, but they became a meaningful part of my dad's journey. They helped keep him engaged and stimulated. More importantly, they made him smile. We could see him become more relaxed, more alert, and more like himself.

"Travis saw my dad as more than a patient. He saw him as a person.

"What I will remember most is not any single task, medication, or procedure. It is the way Travis made us feel. During three long months, when our lives revolved around fear and uncertainty, he somehow found ways to bring light into the room. He would often pop his head through the door just to crack a joke, say hello, or see how we were doing — even when he wasn't assigned to my dad's care. His sense of humor never diminished the seriousness of our situation. Instead, it gave us precious moments to breathe, laugh, and feel normal again. Those moments were gifts during a time when there were very few of them. Travis accompanied my dad to procedures. He celebrated small victories alongside us. He worried with us during setbacks. We always knew that he genuinely cared about my dad and our family.

"He also became an enormous source of strength and comfort for my mom. As weeks turned into months, she carried the weight of uncertainty, difficult decisions, exhaustion, and anticipatory grief. Travis always seemed to know when she needed reassurance, an explanation, a listening ear, or simply someone to sit with her in a difficult moment. He supported her with a level of compassion that went far beyond his professional responsibilities. Knowing Travis was there made her feel less alone, and that comfort is something our family will never forget.

"Sadly, despite every effort, my dad passed away. Even then, Travis's compassion did not end.

"When Travis attended my dad's funeral, it confirmed something our family had felt throughout the entire hospitalization: my dad was never just another patient to him. The relationship mattered. The person mattered. Our family mattered.

"Nurses are often praised for their clinical excellence, which Travis unquestionably possesses. But what makes him extraordinary is the rare combination of clinical skill, emotional intelligence, compassion, humor, advocacy, and genuine human connection that he brings to every interaction. He consistently goes far beyond what's expected because he cares deeply about the people entrusted to him.

"During the darkest days of our lives, Travis helped us find comfort, hope, laughter, and strength. He stood beside us when things were scary. He celebrated with us when things improved. He grieved with us when we ultimately lost my Dad.

"My family will never forget the difference he made, his kindness, his humor, his compassion, or the way he cared for every one of us. The DAISY Award honors nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate care then — I can't imagine anyone more deserving than Travis!"

Know a Fabulous Nurse?

"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses — so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination. Each month, the Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) DAISY Award Committee honors two nurses with DAISY Awards.