Tereza Ubinas-Valle
A medical issue during her second pregnancy motivated Tereza Ubinas-Valle to commit to making her health a top priority—for herself and her growing family.
There was a time when Tereza Ubinas-Valle, an Environmental Service Aide at Andrus on Hudson nursing home and rehabilitation center, didn’t think much about her unhealthy diet, smoking habit or lack of exercise, and she would only see her doctor when she was sick. Even after completing a course of chemotherapy and radiation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2005, she didn’t change her ways—until she became pregnant five years later.
Although Tereza had quit smoking during her pregnancy with her first child, Ashley, she had started again soon after the baby was born. In 2010, when she became pregnant with her second child, John-John, she quit smoking for good. “I haven’t had a cigarette since,” Tereza said. “I truly believe my son may have saved my life.” But Tereza developed gestational diabetes during her pregnancy, which can happen when the placenta releases hormones that help the baby grow but that may make it harder for the mother’s body to make or use insulin. With her doctor’s care, Tereza managed her condition. “The first thing I did was stop drinking soda and start drinking water,” she said. “My diet also needed an overhaul, so I worked hard to change it.”
The first thing I did was stop drinking soda and start drinking water. My diet also needed an overhaul, so I worked hard to change it.
Environmental Service Aide
Andrus on Hudson nursing home and rehabilitation center
While her gestational diabetes resolved itself after John-John was born, Tereza maintained her healthy lifestyle and went on to have two more healthy pregnancies. Today, she makes sure family meals include lots of green vegetables like broccoli, spinach and salad, and baked chicken or fish, rather than red meat or fried foods. She also stays fit by walking every day, steadily increasing her distance and pace. “I walk several blocks a day as part of my morning and evening commute,” Tereza said. “And I get outside and walk during my lunch break when the weather is nice.”
Tereza now sees her primary care physician for a checkup once a year and also attends our Wellness Department’s health fairs for preventive screenings to supplement her doctor’s care. She feels as if she was given a second chance to enjoy a long, happy life with her husband, John, and four children, Ashley, John-John, Victoria and Mya. “I feel great in every way.”
Physicians and other healthcare professionals have long seen a correlation between physical and mental health. In the past decade or so, numerous studies have confirmed this link and have led to improved treatment options. For example, it’s not uncommon today for doctors to recommend that hypertensive patients improve their diet while also instructing them to practice stress–reduction techniques. We’ve learned that high stress levels alone can trigger a spike in blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. Of course, your Benefit Fund has always embraced whole–person care, which is why our Wellness Member Assistance Program offers health fairs, seminars, classes, presentations and workshops at your workplace that address both physical and mental health. 
The 1199SEIU Benefit Funds’ Fraud and Abuse Department has identified a telemarketing fraud scheme that has the potential to cost your Benefit Fund thousands of dollars–and could even leave you responsible for out-of-pocket costs. The scheme typically involves a phone call from someone saying that you can obtain a prescription cream to relieve joint and back pain, fully covered by your health plan–which is not true. The caller sets up a phone call with a doctor, who “prescribes” the pain cream and has it sent directly to your home. Remember: Teladoc is the Benefit Funds’ exclusive telemedicine provider; no other telemedicine provider is authorized to prescribe medication for 1199SEIU members. 
Let’s face it: No one looks forward to getting a colon cancer screening, but the consequences of putting it off can be serious. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 100,000 new cases of colon cancer in 2019, which could be responsible for 51,000 deaths. Early detection can save many of these lives. Only 42 percent of 1199SEIU members age 50 and older have been screened for colorectal cancer, a rate far too low and one that our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Van H. Dunn, has committed to raising.
