Aug 18, 2023 Reporting from Niles, MI
Standing together for better health - Sean Hubert
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/how-we-compare/our-patients/Detail/standing-together-for-better-health/?utm_source=Standing_together_for_better_health&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Aug 18, 2023
Aug 18, 2023
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
Sean Hubert, 45, will never forget the face of the person who gave him a helping hand when he needed it most. Sean first met community health specialist Margaret Clayborn at a meeting that she hosted at his apartment complex in Benton Harbor. He conn
Standing together for better health - Sean Hubert
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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Standing together for better health - Sean Hubert
Aug, 2023
Sean Hubert, 45, will never forget the face of the person who gave him a helping hand when he needed it most. Sean first met community health specialist Margaret Clayborn at a meeting that she hosted at his apartment complex in Benton Harbor. He connected immediately with Margaret who has served the Benton Harbor community for more than 40 years improving health, instilling humanity and inspiring hope.
“I’ve stayed in contact with Margaret for the past three years, and I know that she is someone who will always connect me to the right person or support that I need,” Sean said.
Sean visited Margaret at Corewell Health Center for Wellness, formerly the Center for Better Health and Wellness, when it opened in November 2020 to learn about getting his public record expunged. After speaking to Margaret, Sean scheduled an appointment with legal aid and learned about the required documents he’d need to submit with his request. But, the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a halt when government offices closed. Sean had to wait a year before submitting his paperwork.
The pandemic worsened health outcomes for people who lived in Sean’s building, especially seniors. It was difficult for them to isolate when they had to deal with mold and insect infestations—including bed bugs and cockroaches—in their home.
In addition to poor housing conditions and the threat of a contagious virus, residents were then faced with a water crisis caused by elevated levels of lead found in the city’s waterlines. Over time, lead exposure can cause damage to brain development, the nervous system and kidney function.
“Imagine being in a pandemic and a few months later your city has a water crisis,” Sean said. “I felt like our Black community was being targeted, and I remember thinking, it shouldn’t be this bad in an area where you’re from.”
Sean recognized a connection between inadequate housing and poor health.
“Many people were either being diagnosed with cancer, passing away from COVID-19 or developing high blood pressure. I could see how our environment contributed to health issues,” Sean said.
With worsening housing conditions and the stress of caring for family, Sean found it difficult to prioritize his health. He was not properly managing his Type 1 diabetes, and he had multiple factors—such as stress, and barriers to eating healthy and exercising—that led to weight gain and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
“When I needed help getting my physical health back on track, I reached out to Margaret with what my needs were, and she guided me to free health screenings and health coaching at the center,” Sean said.
By July 2022, Sean had lowered his blood pressure and got his record expunged. Thanks to Margaret’s persistence in helping Sean, he received the health and legal support that he needed.
“I wish more people had trust in the health system because there are people like Margaret who care about your well-being and will fight for you,” Sean said. “Getting help when you need it is bigger than you, especially if you have children or are taking care of family.”
Learn more about legal aid services and other health related services in Benton Harbor here.