Scots super granny who beat coronavirus at 100 says 'I'm free'

Isabel McCarron held a sign stating 'I'm free' to celebrate being rid of the killer bug.

A 100-year-old women who beat Covid-19 after testing positive in her care home has been branded a 'super granny' by her delighted family.

Isabel McCarron, who celebrated her 100th birthday last December, was given the news that she had the killer virus on May 14.

Her worried family were unable to comfort her while she remained in isolation but have now shared their joy at the miraculous news that she is free of the bug.

“We’re all calling her super granny now,” said daughter Anne Marie McAleese, 63.

“My mum lived on her own until last November. She had a couple of falls and ended up in hospital.”

On November 4, just over a month before her 100th birthday on December 17, great-grandmother Isabel moved into St Joesph’s care home in Robroyston near Glasgow.

The home, run by Little Sisters of the Poor, has been following social distancing and isolation measures as a precaution since the coronavirus outbreak began.

All residents were tested on May 12 and Anne Marie received a call on May 14 to inform her that her mother had tested positive.

“Out of 55 residents, my mum was one of three who tested positive and was being isolated,” she said.

“I think my very words were ‘oh lucky white heather’ only three were positive and one was my mum.”

The family were prevented from seeing Isabel in person due to lockdown restrictions but managed to keep in contact via FaceTime while she remained under isolation in her room.

Despite concerns given Isabel’s age, she miraculously remained asymptomatic and after 14 days in isolation was found to be rid of the virus.

Anne Marie said: “We were absolutely delighted.

“We were told that as soon as she found out she was free she ran out the door to towards the balcony.”

Isabel celebrated her new found freedom from coronavirus with a banner stating “I’m free!”.

“My mum is not like a normal 100-year-old,” laughed Anne Marie.

“She likes to be outside. She was really annoyed that she couldn’t go a walk.

“I think that spirit is what’s kept her going.”

Former maths teacher Isabel has four great grandchildren, 12 grandchildren and six children.

In honour of her beating Covid-19, a family friend put her photoshop skills to use and created a picture of Isabel on the poster for the 1980s kids show “Super Gran”.

Anne Marie has praised the standard of care at St Joesph’s care home, where the other two residents who tested positive are also understood to have made a full recovery.

She said: “It’s a beautiful building and I could not fault the way my mother has been looked after.

“She is a very holy person and she goes to mass every day, she gets to read lots of books.”

St Joesph’s, which is a charity based care home, relies heavily on community fundraising.

They have launched a Just Giving page to help ensure they can maintain essential supplies throughout this challenging period.

The home estimate to have lost out on around £2000 a week and up to £10,000 a month in fundraising since the start of this lockdown period.