Woman credits Diet Coke for longevity: 'I'm surprised that I'm 104!'
Theresa Rowley
Theresa Rowley  turned 104 on Monday  Jan. 1  2018.  She  believes the secret to  her  longevity is  her  daily consumption of Diet Coke. (Photo: WZZM-TV  Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek  Mich.)
GRAND RAPIDS  Mich. —  Theresa Rowley  has been a resident at a Michigan retirement community for the last 15 years.
 She  moved into Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community in Grand Rapids  Mich.  when  she  was 89.
On Monday   she  turned 104.
"I'm surprised that I'm 104 " said  Rowley  on Tuesday. It just doesn't seem like I should be that old."
When asked when  she  and  her  family moved to Grand Rapids   Rowley  couldn't remember the exact year  only saying that  she  was born in Illinois in 1914  then moved to North Dakota before eventually coming to Michigan.
"When I was 100  I thought I'd never be 104; I thought I'd pass away by that time but it just didn't happen "  Rowley  said. "Then I turn 101  and nothing happens.
Maybe the reason why nothing has happened is because of  her  daily intake of  her  favorite beverage — Diet Coke.
"I drink it because I like it "  Rowley  said.  She  said  she  was going shopping Wednesday because  she  needed more Diet Coke. "I have a bag full of empty Diet Coke cans that I need to return to buy more Diet Coke."
 Rowley  said  she  drinks at least one can of Diet Coke each day.
On Tuesday morning   Rowley  celebrated  her  104th birthday in style  with a cake  and with the support of many of the members of  her  retirement community.
[TGT]turned 104 on Monday  Jan. 1  2018.  [TGT]  believes the secret to  [TGT]  longevity is  [TGT]  daily consumption of Diet Coke. (Photo: WZZM-TV  Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek  Mich.)
GRAND RAPIDS  Mich. —  [TGT]has been a resident at a Michigan retirement community for the last 15 years.
 [TGT]  moved into Sentinel Pointe Retirement Community in Grand Rapids  Mich.  when  [TGT]  was 89.
On Monday   [TGT]  turned 104.
"I'm surprised that I'm 104 " said  [TGT]on Tuesday. It just doesn't seem like I should be that old."
When asked when  she  and  her  family moved to Grand Rapids   [TGT]couldn't remember the exact year  only saying that  [TGT]  was born in Illinois in 1914  then moved to North Dakota before eventually coming to Michigan.
"When I was 100  I thought I'd never be 104; I thought I'd pass away by that time but it just didn't happen [TGT]said. "Then I turn 101  and nothing happens.
Maybe the reason why nothing has happened is because of  [TGT]  daily intake of  [TGT]  favorite beverage — Diet Coke.
"I drink it because I like it [TGT]said.  [TGT]  said  [TGT]  was going shopping Wednesday because  [TGT]  needed more Diet Coke. "I have a bag full of empty Diet Coke cans that I need to return to buy more Diet Coke.[TGT]said  [TGT]  drinks at least one can of Diet Coke each day.
On Tuesday morning   [TGT]celebrated  [TGT]  104th birthday in style  with a cake  and with the support of many of the members of  [TGT]  retirement community.