Who let the dogs in the hospital?

Recently, our clown team has been seeing more adult patients at the hospital in Columbus. It is a refreshing addition. However, it also offers an additional challenge. We use the same skill set for adults and children, but there's a different dynamic, a different vibe when dealing with patients in their  60s as opposed to six-year-olds. That said recently, dr. tiny, and I were in an adult unit. The charge nurse identified a few patients we could visit. The one patient that got my attention was an adult woman.

At first glance, she looked like she is in her 60s. She was lying in her bed with a look of stoic unease. I often see this look on the faces of adults in a way that I don't see in children. A sense of fatigue and weariness is unique to adults. dr. tiny, and I carefully approached. I played music on my ukulele; first, a gentle song. Eventually, I sang the lyrics to this song, "5 foot 2". As I was playing this song, I carefully watched her behavior. She was aware of our presence. I carefully continue playing along, watching for any reaction. After finishing the song, she raised her right hand. She couldn't lift her left hand because of the iv in her arm. After raising her right hand, she began to pat her right leg gently. It was her way of clapping. She enjoyed the performance and showed her appreciation. As she did this clapping motion, a small smile appeared. We noticed that she exhaled more after we played the music. She was breathing easier. The stoic look on her face softened. She looked more comfortable. The look of fatigue disappeared for the next few moments, and we saw a new woman with a different spirit.

After this song, dr. tiny took a few beads from his pocket and began twisting them into a small dog shape. As dr. tiny made his bead dog, I played the song, "How much is that doggie in the window”.  It is an old-school song. I don't know who recorded it. It's just one song that seems ubiquitous to people of a certain age. First, I played a short musical introduction on my ukulele. Then, I sang the first line of the song. "How much is that doggie in the window…" To my surprise, the patient who knew the song decided to join in. She barked in perfect timing with the music. Both dr. tiny, and I were startled. We didn't expect such signs of vibrance and play in the patient. I repeated the line to get her another chance to bark again. True to form, she barked again right on cue… "How much is that doggie in the window, Woof,… Woof, the one with the waggly tail….

At first, this patient showed signs of her awareness that we were there, along with a few gentle movements of her appreciation. We certainly did not expect her to brighten up so forcefully, enthusiastically, and without an invitation into the clown routine. Hearing this, I complimented her on her bark. She chuckled, and her smile grew even larger. This visit, but this adult woman, was the highlight of our day.

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to forget the profound impact that simple acts of kindness can have on others. But even the smallest gesture can make a difference for someone lying in a hospital bed, battling illness or injury. Clowning has an undeniable ability to touch our hearts and uplift our spirits. It can transport us to a different place, evoking emotions and memories like nothing else. These clown moments foster a sense of connection and community within the hospital environment. Patients, caregivers, and medical staff come together, sharing smiles and laughter and momentarily forgetting the challenges that brought them to the hospital.

These clown moments inject much-needed positivity and joy into the lives of hospital patients, adults, and children. With its remarkable ability to uplift and soothe, clowning becomes a powerful tool in the battle against illness and injury. Its presence reminds us of the profound impact of simple acts of kindness on those in need. The healing power knows no bounds.

Its bark is mighty and should not be ignored.