Annual Golf Classic

3rd Annual Mike Gustin Memorial Golf Classic

For the past two years, our Golf Classic in memory of Mike Gustin has been a huge success. The outpouring of generosity—from sponsors, golfers, volunteers, family, doctors and nurses from Tufts Medical Center, heart transplant patients, and many more—has been truly amazing. We aim to continue that success this year in raising needed funds to bring resources together for heart failure patients and their loved ones suffering from a life with many challenges.

When: Monday, August 6, 2018

Where: Marshfield Country Club

Event Timeline:

• Registration: 10 am
• Shot-Gun Start: 11 am
• Boxed Lunch: (On Course)
• Cocktail Hour: 5 pm
• Helicopter Drop: 5:15 pm
• Dinner & Auctions: 6-8 pm

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About Mike

Michael Gustin passed away on July 23, 2015 at the age of 64 years old. Mike battled heart disease since 1996, when he went in for his first heart surgery at Tufts Medical Center in Boston MA, under the care of Dr. Carey Kimmelstiel. Throughout the years, he had many visits to the hospital, resulting in multiple surgeries, heart attacks, strokes, etc. It wasn’t until September, 2014 that his heart disease progressed and he was diagnosed with heart failure.

Mike was unable to stay home for more than a week and sometimes days. Calling for an ambulance was becoming the “norm” for the Gustin family. Heart Failure was now beginning to diminish Mike’s quality of life and he needed to be hospitalized 24/7. Mike could no longer do the things he loved to do most. Mike needed to stay in the hospital for over two months on the most critically intensive floor in the hospital, the Cardiomyopathy Center, at Tufts Medical Center. It wasn’t until then that Mike and his family were told that he needed a new heart and that there was going to be a lot of steps and challenges before he could be a recipient. During those difficult months, Mike’s family would be driving into the hospital daily and praying and hoping for a miracle. Repeatedly, they hoped the doctors could fix the problem as they always did and their beloved Mike would be able to come home.

It was in February, 2015, that Mike and his family were told the devastating news. Mike would not be a candidate for the LVAD and receiving a new heart was no longer a possibility for him. As devastated as Mike and his family were, they all decided to make Mike’s last wish a reality by bringing him home to be cared for by his family, Dr. Amanda Vest from Tufts Medical, and South Shore Visiting Nurses nurse, Jay Bates. Remarkably, against all odds, Mike was able to stay home without hospital visitations for almost 5 1/2 months before he passed.

During those difficult months, back-and-forth from the hospital, Mike’s daughter was blessed to meet Patrick Sullivan. Patrick, a heart transplant survivor and one of the founders of HeartBrother’s Foundation, met Laurie outside waiting for her vehicle at the parking garage outside of Tufts Medical Center. Patrick immediately reached out , seeing the distressed look on her face; and from that day forward, was there to offer support for the family. Although Mike did not get to meet Pat, he knew of him and his eagerness to help in anyway he could; whether it was emotional, physical, or financial.

When Mike passed away, the family immediately knew where they needed to focus their energy and efforts. They felt they could understand what these patients face on a day- to- day basis and what their families are up against. When people think of Mike, they think of how generous and kind he was to everyone he would meet. One of Mike’s accomplishments, many years ago, was that he began a celebrity golf tournament to raise money for Cerebral Palsy. This tournament still exists today, after 30 years, raising over $1.6 million dollars. Mike’s love for golf, and Mike’s acts of generosity and kindness over the years, led the Gustin Family and HeartBrothers Foundation to start this Annual Golf Tournament in 2016 in memory of Mike.

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