
NICK EICHER, HOST: When staffers at a veterans’ home in Lebanon, Oregon rolled Bill Lapschies outside in his wheelchair last week—a small group of family members was waiting to greet him.
AUDIO: Love you! Love you, dad!
All were practicing social distancing, but they didn’t want to miss their chance to celebrate.
They brought chocolate birthday cake and balloons.
His daughter, Carolee Brown told local tv station KGW8…
BROWN: It’s an extra special day; not exactly how we planned to celebrate his birthday.
It was an extra special day for two reasons: First, Bill Lapchies was celebrating birthday 104! That’s a big deal. But here’s a rival big deal: He’d just earned a clean bill of health … after recovering from the coronavirus!
And that makes Bill Lapschies the oldest known coronavirus survivor.
Asked how he beat it, he laughed and said “oh, it just went away.”
World War II vet, no sweat. It just went away!
REICHARD: Happy belated birthday, Bill! And thank you for your service!
EICHER: It’s The World and Everything in It.