My mom has been here in the hospital for two months now and I've been right here by her side the whole time. So often we have felt that we've been lost in the mix of the hustle and bustle of the hospital but every now and then we have had someone truly exceptional take care of us. Danielle Justice made both my mom and me feel truly special. Even when she was no longer our nurse she would come and check on us and chat with mom making her feel special. Even on her days off she would pop by to say "hi" and bring us projects to keep us busy (sketch books, knitting projects, movies). She spent time on her nights off teaching me to knit (something my mother hadn't had a chance to teach me yet). She would take our laundry home to wash so we could always have clean clothes. She always worried about how I never got out of the room so she would take me on walks or we would grab Indian food across the street.
Danielle is an amazing human being with a true heart of gold. She does all of these caring things for mom and me out of the kindness of her heart and we appreciate her.
I personally asked around and a nurse on the Rehab floor told me about this award. After two months of being here at the University of Colorado Hospital, I don't believe there is anyone more worthy of this award. The world would be a better place with more people like Danielle in it. She showed so much care for my mom and what blew me away was the care she also showed me. She always told me that I should take care of myself so that when we went home I could be a strong, happy, supportive caregiver to my mother. She was so worried that I would run myself down physically and emotionally before we ever got home. That amount of care and love for human life is such a special quality that cannot be taught; it comes from within her heart and soul.
Her kindness towards my mom and me is inspiring and gives us hope in a time when hope can be hard to come by. Our gratitude towards Danielle and the impact she has made on mom and me is something we will hold close to our hearts always. We will never forget her.