Registered nurse Vanessa Fremstad knew her patients well at the nursing home at Mayo Clinic Health System- Oakridge in Osseo. As one female resident became ill, Vanessa knew this woman's end of life was nearing. Vanessa helped keep the resident's spouse informed as he sat every day by her side.
An accident then landed him in the hospital while his wife lay in the nursing home through her last days. Vanessa took the opportunity to go to his bedside to visit with him each day to keep him informed of his wife's progress. Going that extra mile recently earned Vanessa the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
As a recent bride herself, Vanessa said she saw how powerful love can be. "It was wonderful to see how dedicated he was to her and that he wanted to be with her until the end", said Vanessa. "He was hurting, just wanting to be with her."
Vanessa sat and talked, and let him know that if he needed anything, he could call anytime. "We knew the end was nearing, and the hospice nurse was with her. I went to get him, and while I was gone, she passed away," Vanessa said. The man spent some time with his wife, and he and Vanessa shed tears as they talked.
"When you are in this kind of position, you realize that it's not just about the patient you are treating, but it's about the family, too."