Melissa Spells

Care Management Coordinator, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Not all health journeys follow a predictable path—sometimes there are unexpected detours. Melissa Spells, a Care Management Coordinator with Jamaica Hospital, found that out when she began hers.

In 2021, Melissa decided it was time to do something about her weight. Although she had been a track star in high school, as an adult it was difficult to lose weight after childbirth. A mother of three, Melissa’s weight had escalated to almost 330 pounds. She admits to a sedentary lifestyle and eating burgers from a drive-thru on a regular basis. But when her doctor diagnosed her with prediabetes and sleep apnea, she knew she had to act. “At that moment, I was wondering what else was coming,” she said. “I was afraid if I kept going, I would hit 400 pounds, and who knows what would be next?”

Melissa started her health journey by looking into weight-loss surgery, but a pre-surgery mammogram uncovered that she had stage 1 breast cancer. “That diagnosis made me understand that this was a life-or-death situation,” she said. “I was nervous and depressed, but at the same time I knew I had to do whatever it took to become cancer-free and avoid a recurrence.”

Melissa shifted the focus of her journey to treating her breast cancer, putting the weight-loss procedure on hold. During her treatment, she developed a strong relationship with her oncologist/hematologist, who helped her recover from her surgeries and radiation therapy. Her doctor also encouraged her to enroll in a unique program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the Breast Cancer and Obesity Lifestyle Development (BOLD) program. The program seeks to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence for survivors through healthy weight management. As a participant, Melissa was helped by her doctor and care team to reach her weight-loss goal through surgery, followed by meal planning, exercise and therapeutic yoga.

A registered dietitian specializing in oncology nutrition was also part of her BOLD team. “She took the time to understand my eating habits,” Melissa said. “And she helped me replace some of my favorite foods with healthier alternatives, which really made a difference. The whole team is like family now!”

To date, Melissa has lost 124 pounds. So, what does her healthy eating plan look like these days? She eats smaller portions and has developed homemade, low-calorie versions of her favorite recipes, including an Asian-chicken lettuce wrap. Melissa maintains her progress by using her 1199SEIU health benefits to continue to see a nutritionist. “I’m finally in the right mindset,” she said. “I don’t eat without thinking anymore.”

Melissa also started running again. It didn’t happen overnight, though. She started out walking on a treadmill and taking Zumba classes at her gym. Then she set a goal to run the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K. “I really put my mind to it, so I could make a statement that this is what surviving looks like!” she said. Her daughters were at the race to support her, riding alongside her on their scooters. Thanks to Melissa’s faith and dedication, she made her dream a reality—successfully completing the race last year!

As she continues making strides, Melissa is relieved to have health benefits that cover her follow-up mammograms and all of her aftercare. Having lived a period of her life without her current benefits, she knows how important they are. “I’m so grateful for my 1199SEIU benefits,” she said. “They give me peace of mind and coverage for my daughters—they even allowed them to go to summer camp when they were little!”

Melissa is also a big fan of the Benefit Funds’ Members’ Voices video series (see the link to her video at the end of this story).

She believes 1199ers owe it to one another to share their experiences, especially when being proactive in their health. “I want everyone to get a mammogram early, like I did,” she said. “Catching that cancer saved my life because it was at an early stage. Being able to do that starts with awareness.”

Melissa is ready for wherever her health journey takes her. “This is not about fitting into a pair of jeans,” she said. “I’m living a life now that I could only have dreamed about when I was sitting on the couch—thanks to my village of support—God, my family, the BOLD program, my benefits and healthy living!”