When Leo was born at just 33 weeks, nothing about his arrival was easy.
Nick and Melissa faced a devastating decision: follow doctors’ recommendations to remove Leo from life support or continue fighting, even as the odds were stacked against him.
Making Home Possible
Although Leo was no longer in the hospital, he still required continuous, high-acuity care. The question wasn’t just how to care for him—but how to do so safely, consistently and sustainably at home.
That’s where Maxim Healthcare nurses entered Leo’s life.
Homecare nursing made it possible for Leo to grow up in his own home rather than a facility. He woke up in his own bed, surrounded by family, and experienced daily life beyond hospital walls while still receiving the complex medical care he needed.
For Melissa and her family, Maxim’s nurses’ support meant everything.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” Melissa shares.
Leo’s Maxim Caregivers
Over the past three years, Leo’s nursing team has been a constant presence in his life. They’ve managed his medical needs, monitored his progress and adjusted care as he grew—but homecare nurses don’t just support patients; they also support families.
In Leo’s home, nurses became familiar faces—people who understood his needs, his cues and his routines. They understood his family too.
Progress Happens One Moment at a Time
Leo’s journey hasn’t been defined by overnight breakthroughs. Instead, it’s been shaped by countless small steps forward.
“Small milestones turned into larger milestones,” says Teresa Haywood, RN, one of Leo’s homecare nurses.
With the support of his nursing team, Leo gradually moved from a medically fragile infant to an interactive, engaged child. Today, Leo is sitting up. He’s engaging with the world around him. He’s curious, responsive and learning how to walk. These moments may seem small to some, but to Leo’s family—and the nurses who have walked beside him—they represent tremendous progress. They represent possibility.
A Shared Goal
As Leo continues to grow, his family has a clear vision for the future.
“Our goal is to see him walk into kindergarten,” Melissa says.
This goal reflects years of dedication, patience and belief. It reflects the steady presence of nurses who have helped Leo not just survive, but develop, learn and experience childhood at home. It’s a goal shared by everyone involved in his care—a reminder of why homecare nursing matters so deeply.
Why We Celebrate Nurses Week
Nurses Week is about more than recognition. It’s about impact and honoring nurses who show up day after day, often behind the scenes, making life at home possible for patients with complex needs. Nurses Week is about acknowledging the trust families place in them—and the relationships that form as a result. It’s about stories like Leo’s. Stories where nurses help turn fear into hope. Where progress is measured in moments that matter. Where care extends beyond medicine into compassion, advocacy, connection and commitment.
“I celebrate Nurses Week because without nursing, Leo would not be as healthy as he is today,” says Nick.
Nurses Week is also a moment for nurses to show appreciation for one another and to honor the commitment behind a role that is both challenging and too often thankless.
One of Leo’s nurses, Jazzlyn says, “I celebrate Nurses Week because I just want to take the time to thank other individuals who are like me, who just care and make the day a little bit easier.”
During Nurses Week 2026, we celebrate Maxim nurses because of the real lives they touch every day through compassion and compliance with physician ordered care. Because of the families they support. Because of children like Leo, whose story is still unfolding—one milestone at a time.
And because sometimes, the greatest impact happens quietly, in the place that matters most: home.
To learn more about Leo’s story, watch this video.
Maxim Healthcare is proud to serve Leo and his family! We look forward to making a difference for other families in the future by providing compassionate care for those in need. Reach out to your local Maxim office for more information on the services available near you. If you’d like to know more about Maxim’s in-home pediatric care offering, read our blog here. You can also read our blog with FAQs about pediatric home care here.
