CommentsCall it utmost courage, conviction, discipline, sheer luck or dedication of medics and support-staff, 103 year old Ada Zanusso has done the unthinkable. She has joined a league of centenarians to have survived the pandemic coronavirus.
Zanusso, a resident of Rome is a popular and inspiring face in a region which has been crippled by the deadly virus. Italy, along with neighboring France, has Europe's largest population of what has been dubbed the "super old" — people who are at least 100. As the nation with the world’s highest number of COVID-19 deaths, Italy was looking to its super-old survivors such as Zanusso for inspiration.
Zanusso's story is also interesting because she could very well be the only senior citizen to have survived two deadly outbreaks. Zanusso was barely a few years old when the deadly Spanish Flu struck the world in 1918.
For now, Zanusso is isolated from other residents as she awaits a follow-up swab test to confirm she is negative for the virus.
She grew up in Treviso, in the northeastern Veneto region, where she worked for many years in the textile industry. Zanusso, who turns 104 on Aug. 16, had four children — three of whom are living — and has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
"She’s old, but healthy, with no chronic illness," her doctor said.
Here's that inspiring story of Zanusso:
Image: Picture of Ada Zanusso taken on April 6, 2020. Image source: Associated Press (Residenza Maria Grazia Lessona via AP Photo) (Giampiero Brisotto)
Text: Sify, AP
Disclaimer: Sify.com is a suscriber of Associated Press.
