When Muriel Hailey was born, the United States was still two years away from a deadly influenza pandemic that would eventually claim the lives of an estimated 675,000 Americans.
That was in 1916. On Wednesday, Hailey turned 104 years old. And because of the current pandemic we’re in, it was the first birthday since Hailey turned 85 that she was unable to see her family members in person.
“She’s quite the birthday gal,” said Hailey’s son Gerry.
Hailey lives at the AltaVita Senior Residences in Longmont, CO. She has three children—a daughter in Utah, a son in Florida, and another son in Boulder. Her family in Boulder has been able to visit her a few times since the beginning of the pandemic, albeit through a glass window at the living facility. Visitors are currently not allowed inside the facility.
“It’s not fun for anyone, much less for me,” Hailey said. “The bad part about it is there’s no date for the end of [the pandemic]. We don’t know how much longer we’re going to have to go through this.”
Thankfully, modern technology has allowed Hailey to have virtual visits with her family. The staff at AltaVita is able to set up Zoom chats for Hailey and her family.
