Kelli Snider, NICU Nurse
Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital
Nominated by Taylor Murray

"Kelli transformed our NICU journey in the most profound way with her compassion, strength, and unwavering dedication just over a month into our four-month stay. From the moment she began caring for our son Leo, she brought light into some of our darkest days and helped me find confidence as a new mother when I needed it most. She not only provided exceptional care, but also taught me how to advocate for myself and find my voice during a time I felt completely lost. When I truly believed I wouldn’t be able to survive this experience, Kelli showed me that I could.

She consistently went above and beyond - even on days she wasn’t working to check in and support us, always making us feel valued and never like a burden. She helped me find moments of laughter and experience happiness again when I didn’t think it was possible, reminding me that hope and strength still exist even in the hardest seasons of life. We truly feel she is a meaningful part of our “why” in this journey - someone we were meant to cross paths with during this chapter of our lives. The impact she has had on our family is something we will carry with us forever.

I will forever be grateful for the friendship Kelli built with my husband and me, but most importantly with our son - his “Nonnie,” as we call her. On mornings when it took me longer to get downtown, I had complete peace knowing he was in the best hands, cared for by someone who truly loved him as her own. If she was there and I wasn’t, I knew he was getting extra snuggles and attention so I could take a much-needed moment for myself. A long NICU stay is exhausting, and gaining that level of trust in someone caring for your child is the greatest gift to make those long days feel shorter. Leo will forever know about the incredible nurse who not only helped save his life, but mine too.”