Sanjour Spencer

Sanjour Spencer, who relies on her 1199SEIU benefits to control her blood pressure, helped make sure her co-workers had the protective equipment they needed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanjour Spencer, a Nursing Assistant at the Crown Heights Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and an 1199SEIU member since 1992, has always wanted to help people. “I enjoy it when I can do something for someone and get to see a smile on their face,” said Sanjour, who grew up in Saint Vincent taking care of her grandmother. “That lets me know that I was able to help them.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, the mother of three and grandmother of four didn’t slow down. “If anything, that made me feel the need to come to work more, because I saw how hard it was on everyone,” she said. “People were scared, so I wanted to help; if I had stayed home, I would not have helped anyone.” And when she and her coworkers had difficulty getting personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe on the job, Sanjour became the person responsible for making sure they all had the gowns, shields and N-95 masks they needed.

Sanjour, who has high blood pressure, understands the importance of taking care of herself, too. She’s thankful for her health benefits that allow her to take the medication she needs to control her hypertension. “I pray every day 1199SEIU will always be there for healthcare workers like me,” she said. “I go to the doctor and the pharmacy, and there’s no co-payment at all—it’s wonderful.” Sanjour has made lifestyle changes to protect her health as well, such as by walking to work, cutting salt and carbs from her diet, and replacing meat and pork with chicken and fish.

Sanjour also used her training benefits to get her GED 15 years ago, as well as a certificate as a dialysis technician. Now, she is considering going back to school again, to fulfill her dream of becoming a physical therapist. “With my benefits, you can be whatever you want to be in the medical field if you apply yourself,” she said.

Looking ahead, Sanjour hopes her family’s next generation can enjoy the same benefits she has. “If one day my grandchildren get into healthcare, I want them to be able to enjoy everything offered to me,” Sanjour said. “I’m thankful every day for them—I would not give them up for anything.”