Kelli Snider, NICU Nurse
Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital
Nominated by Melissa Daly

“This past December, Kelli was the second person (after my husband) I reached out to when I was sent by my OBGYN to Prentice for an emergency induction with our daughter Nora (31 weeks). I met Kelli almost exactly 3 years earlier when I went into early labor with our son Ronan at 30 weeks, resulting in a stay NICU. I was terrified with Ronan and God, or fate, or both sent us Kelli. During our NICU stay, Kelli made me feel safe and strong and confident; she was my cheerleader and advocate when I was tasked with being Ronan’s; she was my friend when I was feeling at my most low and when I was at my most high. With Nora, I was less afraid-I knew I had Kelli-my NICU cheerleader, supporter, and pal. While I didn’t know whether Kelli was going to be able to be our primary with Nora (fast-forward she was), I knew that she would be there for us anyway and that I had the NICU mom tools that she taught me with Ronan to handle a second NICU stay! I am so blessed to have walked out of the NICU twice with healthy, happy babies— I am also so blessed to have been walked out of the NICU and hugged and supported by Kelli, my friend. She is a treasure.”