Jane Draper returned to her home April 8 after nearly spending two weeks in a Springfield hospital with COVID-19. The 99-year-old, a member of Pasfield Southern Baptist Church in Springfield, was greeted by around 20 family members and neighbors, the Springfield State Journal-Register reported.
Draper made her return in a T-shirt that read “With God’s help and your prayers, this 99-year-old beat COVID-19.”
Before going to the hospital, Draper told the Springfield newspaper she got sicker and sicker before realizing she couldn’t handle the illness on her own. “So I called 911 and got them to come and take me to the hospital. Then I was really sick for I don’t know how many days. It seemed like forever.”
Sam Draper, her son, said his mother wasn’t able to receive visitors, but was set up with an iPad for virtual visits.
“My mom is full of faith and grace and wisdom,” he said, “and is just a wonderful person with the attitude that we all should have.”
Milton Bost was Draper’s pastor when he served at Pasfield. “I love her dearly,” he said of the long-time church member and Bible teacher. “She is one of those people that, as a pastor, I trusted completely.”
Jane Draper said she tells everyone to read Psalm 91 when they feel down. “He’s always there,” she told the newspaper. “But the one thing you have to remember before you can talk to God, you have to ask him to forgive you.”
Draper will turn 100 in September.
–State Journal-Register, Illinois Baptist