The category of people most exposed to the infection of Covid-19 is that of elderly. Considered fragile, vulnerable, alone, in certain particular cases they have instead proved to be real warriors. They come from all over the world stories memorabilia of resilient grandparents. So full of heart, they are testimony to how precious humanity is, in every season. An example for those who have only recently entered life and are used to having only a hazy image of weakness of their grandparents.
The men and women we are talking about are people unique that thanks to patience, perseverance and optimism were able to not bend, to get up after the illness finding themselves more vital and strong.
The absolute record belongs to the Dutchman Cornelia Reassure, 107 years old on March 17, guest in a care facility in Sommelsdijk. This was where he was on his birthday. The following morning, at 107 years and one day, she discovered that she was positive for Covid-19. Thanks to her calm and relying on the care of the doctors who assisted her without ever considering her a less urgent case than those younger suffering from the same evil survived. He won, and today he can tell his beautiful story to the rest of the world. To us.
Then there is Carrie Pollock, 99 years old. Admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, UK, with a high fever and suspected pneumonia. Positive too. And she too healed. Completely. In the ward he left a beautiful memory, an injection of vitality and optimism for everyone - a moving story from the medical staff. In the UK too Rita Reynolds, a Liverpool super-grandmother, 99-year-old also survived the virus. He resisted and kicked him out. Churchill (her Prime Minister when she was 14) would have been proud of her.
Another beautiful story with a happy ending is that of the 88-year-old Spanish spouse Guadalupe Kill Hernández e José Prieto Cerrudo. Spaniards, both 88, had just celebrated their XNUMXth wedding anniversary when they fell ill. Together. Inpatients were assigned to different wards, on different floors. They suffered greatly from the distance. It was the first time, they had never separated before. But melancholy did not overthrow them. They both won. And now they are together again. Omnia vincit love, even the Coronavirus, and even at 88 years old!
But the stories that warm our hearts the most are those of home. Our little big Italian stories. The one of nonna Zelinda, 104 years old from Rieti, an authentic warrior. It won the virus, and it won our love and respect. Because Zelinda had already gone through another well-known pandemic unscathed, with consequences if possible more fatal than the present. He was two years old when the Spagnola raged around the world decimating him from 1918 to 1920. But grandmother Zelinda is not alone. A shares his success, and obviously his temper, there is also Ada Zanusso, grandmother of Venetian origins and guest of a residence in Biella. The same age as Zelinda, 104 years old too, and also untouched by the Spagnola. Positive at Covid, she defeated it without ever losing lucidity.
The clarity of Ada, Zelinda, and all the resilient centenarians of the world are an example. And a hope. There hope that clarity also accompanies all of us in a recovery that seems difficult to us, of course, but thatexample of our grandparents shows us more than ever possible. In short, if they made it, we have no excuse to cry on ourselves.
