A World War II veteran had even more to celebrate on his 104th birthday.
Major Wooten, of Birmingham, Alabama, survived COVID-19 days before his birthday on Thursday (December 3), according to the Associated Press via WCVB.
Wooten's granddaughter, Holley Wooten McDonald, said her grandfather was physically drained from his COVID-19 battle, but appeared to be making positive strides.
“I'm just thankful that they were able to treat him so quickly and we were able to get him tested,” McDonald told the AP, adding: "It’s amazing that a 104 year old survived COVID."
Madison Hospital shared a video of Wooten wearing a face mask while being discharged in a wheelchair decorated with balloons and waving to employees as they sang "Happy birthday dear Pop Pop" two days ahead of his actual birthday, the Associated Press reports.
Wooten served as a private first class in the United States Army, where he repaired bomb-damaged trains in France during World War II, before working with U.S. Steel in Birmingham during his postwar career. McDonald told the AP her grandfather tested positive for COVID-19 on November 23 after his daughter (her mother) had previously tested positive.
The 104-year-old received an infusion of the recently approved monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab, but was reported to be physically drained the following day and needed to be rushed to the hospital via ambulance on Wednesday, November 25, McDonald told the AP.
“I don’t know if that medicine just started working … but within 24 hours he was better,” she said. Wooten's blood oxygen levels are good now and his lungs are ”clear as a bell," McDonald said.
McDonald said her mother also recovered from coronavirus, as well as her sister, who needed to spend a week on a ventilator after developing the virus.
Wooten had previously experienced another major health scare last spring when he was hospitalized with serious heart problems. During his recovery, University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban called the Crimson Tide super fan after news of his condition was shared on the local news.
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