When the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, MaryGrace Colobong had no idea how much her job as a Nursing Assistant at Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation—as well as life for the residents there—was about to change. After becoming one of the first staff members to be infected with the virus, in March 2020, she kept a video diary of her experience. “I wanted to help other people know what it was like,” she explained. She detailed her symptoms, which included chills, difficulty breathing and a loss of smell and taste that lasted for over two months. As difficult as her recovery was, she is grateful she never had to worry about getting the care she needed, thanks to her 1199SEIU health benefits.

Once MaryGrace did recover, she returned to work, which, she said, resembled “a war zone,” with staff having to wear “so much personal protective equipment, we looked like soldiers.” Sadly, she also lost seven residents who she felt were like members of her own family. Despite the risks, the pandemic reminded MaryGrace why she had chosen a career in the healthcare industry. “I feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives,” she explained. With the facility in lockdown, she helped residents connect with their family members via video chat, and she was thrilled when family visits resumed in April 2021.