After a frightening fight, an elderly Long Island couple has beaten the coronavirus.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been known that senior citizens are one of the most at risk when it comes to the virus. But 90-year-old Teddy Braun and his 85-year-old wife, Rose, beat the odds.

The virus first hit the Franklin Square couple in early April when Teddy Braun started to feel sick. The Korean War veteran wound up with pneumonia in both lungs and was so ill he could no longer walk or talk.

 

Rose Braun, his wife of nearly 65 years, became his caretaker and kept Teddy out of the hospital with help from their doctor on Zoom. But in helping her husband, she also contracted the virus, albeit more mild symptoms.

"I made up my mind that he's going to make it. And he did. He's pretty tough for 90 years old," says Rose Braun.

The couple both took antibiotics and now say they are 100% COVID-19 free. Rose Braun says her faith in God, as well as help from her family and their doctor, is what guided them through this difficult time.

"You have to have a positive attitude. You've got to trust in God," says Rose. "You've got to listen to your doctor, that's important, and just know that you can fight this. You can fight it. Don't give in to it."

Rose Braun's doctors say she has high antibody levels, so she's looking to donate her plasma to try and save the lives of other coronavirus patients.

Rose and Teddy Braun say they're looking forward to family gatherings and barbecues, but until then, they're grateful to have each other.

Teddy Braun, a man of few words, offered a similar message of appreciation to his wife -- "I love you."