In Memory of our Beloved Denise Michele Wolfson

OUR STORY

On November 4th, our lives changed forever. Denise, a wonderful wife, mother, sister and grandmother, fell down the stairs of her home in Rockville Centre and sustained a traumatic brain injury. She spent two weeks fighting for her life in the SICU at NYU Winthrop | Long Island Trauma Center before passing away on November 18th. 

DENISE MICHELE WOLFSON

There aren’t enough words to describe the wife, mother, sister and grandmother Denise was. Her family was her priority and she ALWAYS put family first. Denise was always smiling, had a contagious laugh, was always put together and was extremely polite. She loved Don so much and they were amazing parents together. Denise loved being a mom. She handmade the best halloween costumes, made sure we went on great family vacations together, and was at every sports event her children and grandchildren participated in. The life lessons Denise taught us will always be with us. She absolutely lived for spending time with her four grandchildren. Even though COVID has been so challenging for all of us, one light in this very dark time is that her grandchildren didn't end up going to sleepaway camp so they spent many weekends hanging by the pool, laughing and eating with Denise. She even came over in a snow ski suit one day covered head to toe (in 90 degree weather) so she could get tight squeeze hugs from everyone safely. Denise was also a great artist and such a good friend to many people. We always had such great family friends growing up that we are lucky to still have in our lives today. Denise was young and healthy and should be here today. We all miss her daily calls, long stories, her laugh and holding her hand. We would do anything for one more hug or kiss. When getting ready to leave, she would always say to her family, “I love you more, no back talks.”

SICU at NYU Winthop | Long Island

While in the SICU at NYU Winthrop | Long Island Trauma Center, Denise received the most compassionate care from the doctors and nurses. They treated Denise like she was part of their own family, not just another patient, which meant the world to us as we watched our own world crumbling right before our eyes. We were experiencing pain, confusion, anger and agony that we didn’t know existed. As the 14 days went on in the SICU, the medical staff lead by the dedicated Dr. Gerard Baltazar with Dr. Joo Lee, Liz Eberhart, Lindsay Beck and Joe Clerici, took the time each day to explain what was happening and how we could articulate it all to our supportive friends and family awaiting news on our mom’s condition. They made the most unbearable situation a little easier for us, and for that we will be forever grateful. When trying to think of a way to honor our mother’s memory, it kept coming back to the SICU unit, especially during this global pandemic. Nurses are the frontline workers of COVID. They are experiencing extreme stress, anxiety and exhaustion. As we head into the winter months, COIVD cases are spiking and will only get worse. There is no doubt that these heroes will be stretched thin once again. We have decided to set up a memorial fund in our mother’s name that will go directly to reinvigorating the nurses lounge for the SICU Nursing Team at NYU Winthop | Long Island so they can have a nicer space during their breaks. We are hopeful that setting up this fund will both help in our grieving process while also showing our gratitude to the dedicated nurses who cared for Denise.