Miami Teacher Beats Cancer, Hurricane Irma with Help from Union Plus
To her doctors, Adelaide Henriquez looked perfectly healthy. However, inside, she knew something was wrong — she was having vision problems and things were just off.
A veteran of navigating the healthcare system with her late mother and a late friend let her know that she needed to take control quickly. With considerable persistence, her fears were confirmed. She was battling acute myeloid leukemia.
The retired American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1974 member immediately mobilized to do battle. Her level of proactivity wasn’t new — as a union member, she served on the AFT board for her local and lobbied in Washington, D.C.
“If a steward needed help, I was there for them,” said Henriquez.
She brought the same passion to the classroom for more than 30 years as an English-as-a-second-language elementary school teacher.
“I loved seeing children grow in their brain, learning and watching that lightbulb turn on, particularly in reading and math,” she said. “I still miss the way they made me laugh.”
Upon her leukemia diagnosis, Henriquez went directly into treatment. Amid that journey, Hurricane Irma hit. Henriquez felt she was strong enough to weather the storm with her two dogs. Then the tree fell.
“It flew from two houses away. It landed within six inches of my roof and crushed the fence in my back yard,” said Henriquez. “My neighbors really helped me in that time, getting the debris cleared.”
After the dust settled, Henriquez called about the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant.1 As a proud Union Plus Credit Cardholder, she was eligible for the Grant program.2
“I love my Union Plus Credit Card. I love the interest rate, fraud protection [if your card is lost or stolen], the rewards. I use it to travel, and I took a European cruise with my rewards points,” she said.
“After I talked to Union Plus, an email was sent almost immediately to notify me,” said Henriquez. “I was so thankful I was union member. It reinforced that we help each other in the union. The check came in time to make a real difference.”
She used her grant to rebuild her fence and restore the yard on both sides. A few months later, after being in the hospital 28 days, she was deemed leukemia-free.
“I tell people, ‘You have to listen to your own body and don’t depend at a doctor to look at the whole thing. Be your own advocate,’” said Henriquez. “The same goes for your entire life. See? I never stop teaching.”
Through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant, eligible union members receive $500 for help with recovery. Additionally, Union Plus Auto, Life and Accident Insurance Programs or Mortgage Program members may be eligible to receive extensions or other special help from the respective program providers.
If a natural disaster hits, AFT and other union members who are Union Plus Credit Card holders should call 800-622-2580 to speak directly with a specially trained representative.
Union Plus Mortgage and Union Plus Life, Accident and Auto Insurance holders should call 800-472-2005 to speak to a Union Plus staff member.
For more information, visit unionplus.org/hardship.
1Certain restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply to these grants. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be obtained at unionplus.org/assistance.
2Credit approval required. Terms and conditions apply. See www.theunioncard.com for details. Union Plus Credit Cards are issued by Capital One, N.A. pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.