101-year old New York woman survived Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemics

A woman from New York who was born during the time of the Spanish Influenza has survived another pandemic — the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Angelina Sciales Friedman, who is 101 years old, recovered from COVID-19 on April 20, a month after she was diagnosed with the disease.

On March 21, Friedman was taken to a hospital for a “minor medical procedure,” but was given a COVID-19 diagnosis, New York local channel Pix11 News, reported.

Friedman however only stayed in the hospital for a week and was sent back to her nursing home at North Westchester Restorative Therapy and Nursing Center in Lake Mohegan, New York.

PIX11 said the 101-year-old had on and off fever for weeks before she finally tested negative for COVID-19 on April 20.

‘A survivor’

Joanne Merola, Friedman’s daughter, in several interviews has described her mother as a survivor.

Merola said her mother was born in 1918 during the second wave of the Spanish flu at passenger ship carrying immigrants from Italy to New York.

To recall the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic claimed the lives of about 20 to 50 million people.

Out of 11 siblings, Merola said her mother is the only one who is still alive.

Merola said her mother has also survived many illnesses including cancer.

“My mother is a survivor. She is not human. She has superhuman DNA,” Merola told New York local channel News10.

Based on updates of the nursing home, Merola said her mother has been “doing great.”

“She’s up and about as much as possible. She’s looking for wool to crochet with,” Merola told News10.

Merola added that if she sees her mother, she will tell her: “You keep going, Ma. You’re gonna outlive us all.”

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