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Vivian Murray

Detroit

Hero Story

During COVID, my Aunt, Vivian Murray, at the age of 78 with over 40 years of working as an RN with Sinai Grace Hospital, came out of retirement to allow the nurses in the operation department to take breaks during surgery. My aunt did not hesitate to answer the call for help from a short-staffed hospital in the midst of COVID. As with other hospitals, most of the staff was dedicated to the COVID patients. Under normal circumstances, there would be another nurse to step in while a surgical nurse takes a necessary break. At 78, my aunt did not work full-time, but she took the risks to work along the side of the frontline nurses during the enormous battle against COVID. Her old employer was beyond grateful for her sacrifice.

Vivian has been serving at the same hospital for 56 years, but her service does not end there. In her early years she was a girls scouts leader – these women still credit her today for providing support for them being able to achieve in their lives. She delivers food to those in need who do not have transportation. She provides blood pressure screenings at her church to help members stay healthy
She supports AARP in many ways, including serving as a volunteer board member, helping voter engagement and providing health screenings and information. She has over 16 years of service with the Red Hatters and AARP.

During the pandemic, she limited her in-person service to providing the local AARP Chapter with monthly reports about senior services, health, exercises, and self-care for the seniors to keep moving during the isolation times and through the pandemic.

She also leads a group of teenage girls at her church to serve lunch to the essential workers at Sinai Grace – Surgery, Emergency, and ICU. During the peak of COVID in 2020 these workers were served Honey Baked Ham and Turkey Meals along with bottled water.

She also helped create bags filled with toiletry items, winter gloves, socks and chips to a homeless shelter. And at Christmas she adopted two boys from a family supported by the “My Sister’s Pink Journey” who support women that are actively in treatment for breast cancer.

Even though Vivian's age puts her in the most vulnerable population she has continued to serve during the pandemic. She will be 79 in March and she is still in service today, giving the essential workers a needed break during surgery. I am very proud of her.

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Vivian Murray

Detroit

Hero Story

During COVID, my Aunt, Vivian Murray, at the age of 78 with over 40 years of working as an RN with Sinai Grace Hospital, came out of retirement to allow the nurses in the operation department to take breaks during surgery. My aunt did not hesitate to answer the call for help from a short-staffed hospital in the midst of COVID. As with other hospitals, most of the staff was dedicated to the COVID patients. Under normal circumstances, there would be another nurse to step in while a surgical nurse takes a necessary break. At 78, my aunt did not work full-time, but she took the risks to work along the side of the frontline nurses during the enormous battle against COVID. Her old employer was beyond grateful for her sacrifice.

Vivian has been serving at the same hospital for 56 years, but her service does not end there. In her early years she was a girls scouts leader – these women still credit her today for providing support for them being able to achieve in their lives. She delivers food to those in need who do not have transportation. She provides blood pressure screenings at her church to help members stay healthy
She supports AARP in many ways, including serving as a volunteer board member, helping voter engagement and providing health screenings and information. She has over 16 years of service with the Red Hatters and AARP.

During the pandemic, she limited her in-person service to providing the local AARP Chapter with monthly reports about senior services, health, exercises, and self-care for the seniors to keep moving during the isolation times and through the pandemic.

She also leads a group of teenage girls at her church to serve lunch to the essential workers at Sinai Grace – Surgery, Emergency, and ICU. During the peak of COVID in 2020 these workers were served Honey Baked Ham and Turkey Meals along with bottled water.

She also helped create bags filled with toiletry items, winter gloves, socks and chips to a homeless shelter. And at Christmas she adopted two boys from a family supported by the “My Sister’s Pink Journey” who support women that are actively in treatment for breast cancer.

Even though Vivian's age puts her in the most vulnerable population she has continued to serve during the pandemic. She will be 79 in March and she is still in service today, giving the essential workers a needed break during surgery. I am very proud of her.

Photo Upload