After starting in healthcare as a nursing assistant 40 years ago, Representative Zeleznikar is passionate about caring for the most vulnerable Minnesotans. In fact, during the peak of Covid, she worked as a nursing assistant many shifts, because there was no second or third line like hockey when staff were out for 14, 10, 7, or 5 days for Covid exposure or positive as the Minnesota Department of Health revised the rules.
The pandemic gave her valuable experience after coordinating a Catholic funeral in the parking lot or setting up fish houses outside resident apartment windows to allow family members to be together during death. These experiences with family members and aging seniors pushed her to leave her career and run for State Representative. It was a priority for her to make sure that, in the future, nobody was left alone when needing care. Natalie co-sponsored the bill that amended statue 144.651 that establishes the right to have a designated support person while any person is receiving healthcare services in Minnesota.
Natalie published a book “The Scars you Can’t See” in 2021 to promote healing from all traumas in life. Natalie’s trauma was a Breast Cancer diagnosis in 2015, and after a double mastectomy is cancer free. Natalie brushed the edge of death with a stage 1 cancer diagnosis, after developing an infection and sepsis. She understands how fragile life is and brings her contagious energy to create a pathway for better days ahead.
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