August 2020
Justin
Rasmussen
,
MSN, ACNP
Intensive Care and Resuscitation
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Cleveland
,
OH
United States

 

 

 

Justin was the smartest, kindest, most caring person we have ever met. His care meant the world to us as we struggled daily for any sign of improvement.
My mother had decided to have open heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. She was 80 years old, and very independent. She paid her bills online, went to exercise classes, cooked, drove, etc. She and Dad celebrated 60 years of marriage in July 2019. Dr R performed the surgery and Mom ended up spending a month in the ICU. Complications were many and very serious. The doctors and nurses were amazing even after all we went through, we would still choose to have her at the Cleveland Clinic rather than anywhere else. During our month-long stay (we live outside of Detroit) one person continued to stay with us on our journey. Justin is a Cardiac NP. He checked on Mom and saw early on each time something was not right in her condition. He would check on her from home while doing middle-of-the-night feedings with his infant daughter. He would check on her, and us, when he wasn't assigned to her care. He was the smartest, kindest, most caring person we have ever met. His care meant the world to us as we struggled daily for any sign of improvement. There are many others I grew fond of and so many that did a great job. You have built an amazing team in the ICU. My family still mentions Justin by name when we discuss our time in the ICU.

We did not get the final outcome we had hoped for. Mom passed away here in Michigan in October. God had a different plan for her and she is home now with him. Had she not been at Cleveland and had surgery she would have passed from her condition eventually. This would have occurred at some undetermined time and place. Possibly with strangers. Because of the work done by the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. R, and people like Justin; we were all surrounding her when she passed on. For your part in her care, we will be forever grateful.

On behalf of my father, and the rest of our family, Thank you Justin, and all the Nurses who cared so much for our beloved Wife and Mother. Justin is a true DAISY Nurse.