90-year-old great-grandmother recovers after contracting coronavirus in care home where dozens died
Geneva Wood has four living children, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 90-year-old great-grandmother diagnosed with coronavirus has survived the disease and is on her way to making a full recovery.
Geneva Wood, a resident at the Life Care Centre in Seattle, which experienced a severe surge in cases of the virus, tested positive for Covid-19 on 6 March, according to reports.
The Life Care Centre has seen 35 people connected with the centre die, and 81 residents test postive for the virus, The New York Times reported.
In a post on Seattle Refined, Kate Neideigh, Ms Woods granddaughter-in-law shared the hopeful story of recovery.
Ms Neideigh wrote that when Ms Wood was initially diagnosed the family were “stricken and in shock”.
What came next was a worrying fight against a virus that Ms Wood was reportedly determined to win.
The elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are more likely to suffer severe complications from Covid-19 infections, which can be fatal.
Wood’s family, her four living children, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren were cited as her driving force to beat the disease.
“I’m going to fight this for my family and make everyone proud,” she is said to have told her daughter Cami Neidigh through a glass pane while in isolation.
Ms Wood was taken to Harbourview Medical Centre, and when things took a turn for the worst and doctors predicted the great-grandmother’s condition would completely deteriorate within days.
However, miraculously not long after, Ms Woods’ condition began to improve.
“After being faced with death, goodbyes said and isolation set in, this feisty mom, grandma, great-grandma, church-goer, teddy-bear-builder, friend and rock...started to improve,” Ms Neideigh wrote.
The great-grandmother is now recovering at home in isolation after doctors told the family on 22 March that Ms Woods had tested negative for the disease in hospital.
Ms Woods’ daughter urged people not to give up hope but also to embrace social distancing measures implemented by a number of governments across the world to attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
“Getting this virus is not necessarily a death sentence for the elderly or anybody,” Ms Neidigh told her daughter in law.
Be more afraid of spreading it. It’s a wake-up call to take care of each other. Find positive ways to help others out,” she said.
There have been over 330,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide and 14,510 confirmed tests as of Monday, according to the World Health Organisation.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments