Corona Daily 341: A Tango After Hundred

Anna Lanelli, born in Brooklyn, New York, was six years old when she was infected in the dangerous influenza pandemic. Her three-year old sister Helen was also down with what would later be called the Spanish Flu. At the time the two sisters caught the bug, the First World War was still on. Coincidentally, both sisters were born on the same date, 5 September, with a gap of three years. Anna was born in 1912, the year the titanic sank, Helen in 1915. Fortunately, both survived the Spanish flu pandemic.

Their parents were deaf. The girls communicated with them in sign language. Anna married Frank Del Priore, a professional tango dancer, with whom she would often dance. She had a job as a seamstress.

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In May 2020, Darlene Jasmine, 66, received a phone call from Brighton Gardens in New Jersey. Her grandmother had come down with Covid-19. “Oh my god, this is it” thought Darlene. Her grandmother Anna was 107 years old.

Anna Del Priore had fever, cough, and a loss of appetite. But she didn’t need a ventilator, nor was she hospitalized. Anna fought for six weeks, and completely recovered. “God made me better” she said smiling on FaceTime.

Anna became the oldest woman to survive two pandemics that were more than one hundred years apart.

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Anna’s granddaughter, Darlene, says Anna has always been active and mobile. She would do her own cooking and grocery shopping. She specialized in Mediterranean cuisine. Anna herself credits her longevity to the Mediterranean diet - fish, olive oil, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and pasta. “And eat a lot of peppers” she says laughing.

Swimming and sewing are two activities she has never stopped. And given an opportunity, she still dances the tango. As can easily happen with a 100+ old lady, her husband and two daughters are not alive any more. Anna lived with her granddaughter until the age of 101. Till then, she would walk a mile to McDonalds every morning for coffee with friends (who were presumably younger). Then she moved to an assisted living facility in New Jersey. The staff describes Anna as always positive and always smiling. Now, four days shy of her 108th birthday, she gets up, combs her hair, walks and dances.

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Two months before Anna was down with Covid-19, Nick Guzzone, 77, received a call from a nursing home in Queens, NY. His mother had tested positive. Nick could not sleep for a few nights. His mother, Helen Guzzone was 104 years old. Fortunately, Helen recovered in two weeks time. On FaceTime, she gave the good news to her elder sister, and asked her to take care of herself.

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Dr Purvi Parikh, an immunologist at NYU Langone said genetics probably played a role and the two sisters may have highly efficient T cells. T cells are white blood cells we all have that help us fight infection, especially viruses. The two sisters may have T cells far more efficient than the norm, which allowed them to recover against the Spanish flu and Covid-19.

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One gerontology website tracks people over 100 who got infected by Covid-19. Several centenarians across the world have survived. They say people over 65 are at a higher risk and those above 85 much more so. I wonder if the vulnerability meter resets itself on reaching 100. Anna and Helen certainly seem to suggest so.

The coming Saturday, on 5 September, Anna will turn 108, and Helen 105, both in good health and spirits.

Ravi