April 10, 2002 - 1.43 pm
He was tall, but not abnormally so. His shape was sort of roundish. He looked. . . Healthy. His voice was booming, and passionate, he almost didn't need the microphone. He was wearing biiiig red parachute pants, splashed with black stars and swirls, a blue denim shirt that looked like a little kid's paint smock, little dabs of all different colors. His tye was bold crayola colors, red, and yellow and blue, one of his socks was flourescent yellow, the other florescent pink. And the outfit looked. . .perfect on him. On anyone else it would look out of place or odd. His gray, wirey hair was long, down to the middle of his straight back, and on one side, there was a bright blue strip. The color of blue Kool-aide. He said, "The most revolutionary act you can commit in todays society is to be openly happy."
He talked to the packed auditiorium, honestly and frankly about his life. His fathers death when he was 16 , the hospitalizations (mental hospital), and his decision at the age of 18 to become a doctor, and to never have a bad day again.
He talked about his days as a doctor, three physicians, and a number of people and their families moved into a large house and started the Gesundheit Institute, a holistic hosptical, practicing not only traditional medicines, but acupuncture, herbal therapies, and a host of other non-traditional medicines. He talked about being open to everyone and never once taking a penny for their services. He talked about doctors and nurses who had to work outside jobs to support their caregiving. He talked about the community he formed there, if a mechanic came in, then while he was there, he must fix the car of anyone who asked. Their policy of never turning anyone away, and the loss of a close friend, because she had been murdered by a patient.
He talked about his theories about health care and described the process of getting to be one of his patients. House calls, that weren't tea in the living room, he poked around houses, opened closets, looked under beds. He spoke about loving, really loving his patients, and wanting to be with them, and wanting them to feel relief when he was there. Four hour interviews with not only patients but families. A hosptial that integrates painting and sculpture and the performing arts.
He talked about clowning. His early days as a clown. His trips to Russia, Africa, Afghanistan, to be a clown in orphanages, and hosptials. The blatent refusal to go to those countries without significant aide. The heartbreak of walking into a pediatric hosptial in Afghanistan and seeing three starving children to a bed. His powerful voice broke.
His frustration that his hospital hadn't been opened that he had doctors and nurses, and therapists, but he couldn't get a building. Frustrations with people being unwilling to commit to something, talking about health care reform but not being able to address the problem of health care delivery. He defined something called Friendshipism, the idea that the world would be a perfect place if everyone treated everyone else as a friend. Not keeping track of transactions or goods, or money, but being certain that everything will balance out in the end.
Today, I saw Dr. Patch Adams speak. You know the movie that had Robin Williams? The real Patch Adams. CU hosts a Conference on World Affairs every spring, and they invite people from all over the world to have conversations about current world affairs. I LOVE IT. It's so much fun. But Patch Adam's lecture was great. Really moving, and such revolutionary ideas about medicine and about how to live life. I didn't agree with everything he had to say, but the passion of his convictions held me captivated. The main message is this ---- LOVE HUMANITY. Love everyone you come into contact with and don't be afraid to laugh. And play. He talked a lot about playing.
So, as a result, I've made a conscious decision to try and be happy. At least to present a happy, friendly face to the world. Try to work through kindness and strength in my convictions.
It was a really awesome thing.
Emily
