PICU nurse is recognized with a DAISY for the compassionate care she delivered to a struggling mom and her baby.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Shakiyla Rogers couldn’t believe her ears. She was in a conference room surrounded by co-workers when her name was announced as the winner of the DAISY award for the month of December.
“I saw all of them come in to present the award, and it wasn’t even a thought that it was for me,” the PICU nurse said. “I’m like, ‘hush, are you serious?’”
They were serious alright.
And the nominator, a young mom whose baby was in Rogers’ care, was very serious.
“I cannot imagine the strength it takes to come to work each day and experience the life of a PICU nurse,” said Kayla Lillo, whose daughter, Leda, spent several months in the NICU and PICU at Riley Hospital for Children.
Leda, who was born at IU Health Bloomington Hospital in November 2023, was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot (a heart defect), bronchopulmonary disease and a host of other illnesses. She was transferred to Riley four days after she was born. She had her heart repaired last September and was able to go home with her parents for a short time.
“That was the best three weeks I’ve ever experienced,” Lillo said.
More complications, including a rare liver cancer diagnosis, followed, leaving Lillo and her husband, Derek, distraught.
That’s why Rogers’ care as a nurse and a former NICU/PICU mom herself was so important.
Rogers became a nurse at Riley after spending months at the hospital with her own son in the first year of his life. Caiden was born prematurely, weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces.
Now 8, he is “a ball of life,” Rogers said.
But when he was discharged from Riley as an infant, he went home with a feeding tube, as well as a trach tube and ventilator to help him breathe.
During that time, Rogers found strength in the care that surrounded her, and it inspired her to resurrect her dream of going to nursing school.
Now, she can be that strength for others when they need it.
“I think I was able to connect with Leda on a deeper level because of my experience with Caiden,” Rogers said, “so I tried my best to talk to her as a parent, which I think she appreciated.”
One of the best pieces of advice Rogers gave Lillo was to get out of the hospital, if only for a walk outside.
“She noticed that I was crying and told me that her son had spent multiple months here in the NICU when he was born as well,” Lillo said.
“She explained to me that these walls can be so depressing, especially being in a place where you experience and hear the trauma of other children daily. She was the first nurse who truly understood the pain I felt. She was like an angel I didn’t know I needed.”
Lillo, whose daughter passed away in January, remains grateful that she had Rogers to lean on during a dark time.
“She is truly our rainbow on a cloudy day. She deserves all the flowers.”
Rogers is touched by Lillo’s comments and the recognition she has received.
“I was very grateful for it because sometimes you can wonder if your hard work is noticed,” Rogers said. “I’m glad that I was able to help her during a hard time. That was my goal in becoming a nurse – to help those families because I was one of them.”
Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here.