90-year-old Kirkland woman survives coronavirus, reunites with family

An elderly Kirkland woman who survived coronavirus finally got to hug her daughters Sunday.

Geneva Wood, 90, was declared free of the virus, and even had a sign outside her hospital room, “COVID-19 CLEAR.”

Wood had a stroke in December and was taken to Evergreen Hospital. A month later she was taken to Life Care Center of Kirkland to recover. She learned to walk and talk again. She was improving so much she was days from going home when the coronavirus outbreak was discovered at the nursing home.

In what now could be an event that saved her life, Wood fell at Life Care and broke her hip. She was taken to Evergreen Medical Center where her family asked for her to be tested for coronavirus. She was taken back to Life Care. The test came back positive and when she got a fever, she was taken to Harborview Medical Center.

At first, Cami Neidigh and her siblings could see their mom through a window. Soon, the rules changed as the hospital dealt with the growing number of cases.

On March 11, Wood’s condition declined to the point doctors had her family come to say goodbye. Neidigh described her mom reaching at them from the other side of the glass. Seeing the desperation and grief, hospital staff allowed Neidigh, wearing full protective gear, to hug her mom one last time.

But soon Wood improved, and kept improving. Neidigh says her mom credits the potato soup, a family recipe, she asked them to bring her. She said her mom wanted them to be proud of her for fighting her way back.

Neidigh was not able to see her mom for 12 days. On Sunday, Wood was declared free of the virus and got to hug both of her daughters.

Story by KIRO 7’s Alison Grande