Sonia Pillibeit - 2026 Apex Care Professional of the Year Award Nominee
It is with immense gratitude and deep admiration that I proudly nominate our beloved nurse, Sonia Pillibeit, for Care Professional of the Year. Sonia provides an extraordinary level of personalized, thoughtful, and highly skilled care to our three daughters, each of whom has unique needs, personalities, abilities, and challenges. Her dedication goes far beyond the expectations of her role and has had a profound impact on our children and our entire family.
What truly sets Sonia apart is her ability to meet each child exactly where she is. She intuitively connects with our daughters at their individual developmental levels, honoring their ages, interests, and capabilities. With our four-year-old, Molly, Sonia brings learning to life through joy and play—teaching her how to bake, helping her trace letters, and encouraging her love of dressing up and imaginative play. Sonia understands that these moments are not just activities; they are opportunities to build confidence, curiosity, and independence in a young child.
For our nine-year-old, Abby, Sonia fosters creativity, patience, and connection. She has taken the time to teach Abby how to crochet, play card games, and even create choreography. These shared experiences have strengthened Abby’s sense of accomplishment and self-expression, while also building a meaningful relationship rooted in trust and encouragement.
Sonia’s care for our twelve-year-old, Fiona, is nothing short of exceptional. Fiona has complex medical and developmental needs, and Sonia approaches her care with deep compassion, skill, and respect. Sonia has gone out of her way to learn directly from Fiona’s therapists, ensuring that therapeutic strategies are thoughtfully and consistently carried over into our home environment. This continuity of care has been invaluable to Fiona’s progress.
Managing Fiona’s medical needs requires constant vigilance and adaptability. Sonia navigates frequent medication changes with precision and care, monitoring both positive outcomes and challenging side effects. She balances Fiona’s medical needs beautifully, always prioritizing Fiona’s comfort, safety, and dignity. Sonia understands that Fiona’s challenges—whether physical limitations, lack of independence, or behavioral struggles—are entirely beyond Fiona’s control, and she responds with unwavering patience, empathy, and kindness.
Sonia is a reflective and proactive caregiver. She continually reassesses what is working, what is not, and how we can do better. She is always thinking ahead, revising approaches, and collaborating with us to help Fiona become the best version of herself. Most importantly, Sonia celebrates Fiona’s wins—no matter how small. She ensures that Fiona’s efforts and progress are recognized, reinforcing positivity and self-worth every step of the way.
One of Sonia’s most remarkable contributions has been her role in Fiona’s recent weight gain. After three years of being unable to gain weight and remaining in the 1st percentile for both height and weight, Fiona has successfully gained five pounds. This milestone is monumental for a child with Fiona’s medical history. Through Sonia’s persistence, patience, and careful prioritization, this achievement has helped prevent Fiona from needing additional medication and has significantly improved her overall health.
Sonia’s ability to manage high-stress situations is truly extraordinary. From catching Fiona mid-seizure and responding immediately with calm confidence, to navigating Fiona’s continuous bouts of migraine and vomiting episodes, to managing the daily demands of three energetic girls—homework, after-school activities, playdates, illnesses, medical appointments, and the general chaos of family life—Sonia handles it all seamlessly. She knows how to prioritize what needs attention first and does so with grace, competence, and a steady smile.
Beyond her clinical excellence, Sonia brings a peaceful, grounding presence into our home. She lives a life of service and consistently seeks ways to support and uplift others. Our family relies on her deeply, and because of Sonia, we are able to function more fully, grow together, and reach our highest potential.
For all of these reasons and countless others, it is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I nominate Sonia Pillibeit as Care Professional of the Year.
With deepest appreciation,
Caitlin
The Radcliff Family
