85-Year-Old Sees Kids Again After 8-Week Battle With COVID-19

CONGERS, NY — Mary Thomas got sick from the new coronavirus in April. Eight weeks later, the 85-year-old Congers resident was discharged from United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility amid cheers from the staff into the welcoming arms of her grown children, who hadn't been able to see her through her ordeal.

United Hebrew took her mother in when no one else would, said her daughter, Jaya Kusumalayam of Suffern.

"We truly appreciate the wonderful people who helped my mother and our family during the height of the virus outbreak," Kusumalayam said. “We would like to thank them all for their leadership and selfless service. All of their compassion has made a huge difference in our lives."

United Hebrew’s chief of clinical services, Jerome Bagaporo, and several members of the nursing and rehabilitation facility’s staff, were on hand for Thomas's big send off.

"It’s our mission to care for those in need, and we were in a position to help,” said Rita Mabli, president and CEO at United Hebrew. “Our COVID Treatment and Recovery unit was set up and dedicated staff were in place. There was no question that we were going to take her in."

United Hebrew of New Rochelle is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, multiservice campus of comprehensive care nestled on 7.5 acres. United Hebrew has been serving the metropolitan area since 1919.