World War II veteran William Lapschies has a lot to celebrate this year. Not only did he make it to 104 years old, but he did it after battling and beating the coronavirus. Lapschies contracted COVID-19 in early March at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Oregon. He never developed severe respiratory symptoms and told press that the illness "just went away."
"Sit out here and you can get rid of anything,” he said, laughing.
Lapschies, who also lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, is believed to be the world’s oldest coronavirus survivor.
“Pretty good," Lapschies said when asked by his granddaughter how it felt to celebrate another birthday. "I made it.”
“Good for a few more,” he added.
"How does it feel to be 104?"
— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) April 3, 2020
"It feels pretty good. I made it."
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He's not the only senior citizen to beat the disease. Check out this 93-year-old high fiving health care worker on her way out of the hospital.
RECOVERY COMPLETE: Celebratory scenes as 93-year-old patient is discharged from hospital after beating coronavirus. https://t.co/4ojmMyKKg0 pic.twitter.com/GJubCzdWuu
— ABC News (@ABC) April 3, 2020
These warriors are giving us some desperately needed hope in this otherwise terrifying and unpredictable era.