Patch Adams Interview
Apr 15th, 2008 | By Rebbekah | Category: Health Care, Patch Adams, Shows, laughter
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Dr. Patch Adams-LIVE on HYTR on Tuesday April 15th on Blog Talk Radio 2pm et/1pm ct/12pm mt/11am pt
Information from www.patchadams.org
“The most revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be happy”-Dr. Patch Adams
Read article by Patch Adams “The Gesundheit! Hospital Project”
“What I learned from Patch Adams” -article by Rebekah White
Medical doctor; Clown; Performer; Social Activist; Founder and Director of the Gesundheit Institute, a holistic medical community that has provided free medical care to thousands of patients since it began in 1971; Author of Gesundheit! & House Calls; Moving Speaker.
Extraordinary! One man I can look up to and respect, Incredibly, mind blowing and memorable, and Incredibly inspiring, amazing human being, invaluable to hear him first hand …are among the words heard from participants’ after experiencing Patch Adams, the real person behind the hit movie Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams.
Patch is both a medical doctor and a clown…but he is also a social activist who has devoted 30 years to changing America’s healthcare system, a system which he describes as expensive and elitist.
He believes that laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process and therefore true health care must incorporate such life. Doctors and patients in his model relate to each other on the basis of mutual trust, and patients receive plenty of time from their doctors. Allopathic doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine will work side by side. If you think that all sounds like a utopian impossibility, it isn’t. Patch and his colleagues practiced medicine at the Gesundheit Institute together in West Virgina that way for 12 years in what he calls their pilot project. They saw 15,000 patients. Patch Adams has devoted his life to the study of what makes people happy.
Through the success of this program at the Arlington, Virginia location, a model health care facility is being planned on 310 acres purchased in Pocahontas County, WV. The Institute will include a 40-bed hospital, a theater, arts and crafts shops, horticulture and vocational therapy. Over five years ago, Dr. Adams and staff temporarily stopped seeing patients so that they could coordinate plans for raising $5 Million needed for the Institute’s permanent and expanded home, a model health care community. Currently planned is an immediate phase of this dream, a $400,000 WV facility so that their medical service to patients can resume within the next two years.
The Institute addresses, by action, four major issues in health care delivery: the rising cost of care, dehumanization of medicine, malpractice suits, and abuses of third-party insurance system.
Dr. Adams adds to his training as a physician, his experience as a street clown. In working with health and mental health professionals, he explores the relationship between humor and therapy using his unique blend of knowledge, showmanship and hands on teaching techniques. Says Dr. Adams, I interpret my experience in life as being happy. I want, as a doctor, to say it does matter to your health to be happy. It may be the most important health factor in your life.
Patch Adams, M.D., is a nationally known speaker on wellness, laughter, and humor as well as on health care and health care systems. He approaches the issues of personal, community, and global health with zestful exuberance, according to Time Magazine. Dr. Adams believes that the most revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be happy.
What a treat to hear all of you in the same show! Bea, you sound just like I expected! Absolutely charming!
One thing I noticed (which could just be my perspective) is a subtext that said, “Talk is cheap and a waste of my time. We need money and food.”
There is the message contained in the words, aka “love” and the message contained in the subtext. To tell you the truth, I didn’t hear the same message at both levels. I detected anger and a sense of futility. Did anyone else?
He seems exhausted and quite frustrated to me. That might be counter-productive in his role as the messenger right now.
I have a friend (well former friend because he’s gone underground) who is/was an animal rights activist. He walked the talk for many many years. Then he got so fed up with what he saw as “lip service” rather than participating in a political process that takes time; he eventually crossed the line into criminal conduct…for the cause of course.
Patch Adams is a trained performer and as such he knows the feeding and care of this own “instrument” is critical to the big picture. I think the man needs to step back and refuel.
Connie
Thank you Kim and Rebekah for the opportunity to learn more about Patch Adams. I’m familiar with him primarily through the movie but wasnt aware of all that he does around the world.
Despite his message of love and compassion for others, what he exudes is contradictory. His opening response to “How are you?” was “Fine, except for a fascist government” and his repeated reference to “mass murderers in the White House” suggests a bitter, wounded soul. I understand he must be very frustrated after so many years of tirelessly trying to reach people with his message. I’m not sure though that the best way to influence people is to put so much energy into blaming others.
Barb
Constance and Barb I agree with both of you that Patch’s comments are very contradictory and that his bitterness about the way the govt is run does make it a mixed message. I know that he is very outspoken and uses words I do not agree with but the rest of his interview is a good message, I just wish he would realize how he acts and what he says does effect his own projects. He is a good man, just very tired…while that is still not a good excuse for using such phrases as “mass murderers in the White House”-something Kim and I do not agree with nor condone…his mission is pure, I just hope he gets some much needed rest and knows that those of us who want to help are helping and that his message would be better recieved if he was kinder in his delivery of his message.
Your comment Barb is very true-”I’m not sure though that the best way to influence people is to put so much energy into blaming others.” I hope that one day he will not be so bitter and realize he is wasting a lot of his positive message with angry words.
Thank you both for commenting.
-Rebekah White
Rebekah, he has inspired you to be more loving and I am sure he has inspired many more. Your love and admiration for this man is what helped me to look beyond the anger, to his actual message of just how powerful love is. You and Kim help further this message so his ideal passes through you to others.
Katherine Reschke’s last blog post..Love and Hate in Twitterworld
As a person with chronic pain and no help in sight, Patch’s message hit home. I was a bit suprised with his delivery but I can’t agree more with his message.
Let stand in controversy with him because I am one of those who can’t get help thanks to making too much money……… but not enough to get the medical care that would make me better and let me work full time.
I’m also tired of the legal pill pushing here. If I wanted to be a zombie on pain meds, I’d be set as long as I could afford it but I’d rather be awake and aware even if it means living in pain until I can find a solution.
Jenn Brockman
Thank you Katherine so very much…you know the saying that one person can make a difference there is also truth in it takes many to see a vision! I think that the more people read about Patch, his group and their vision of a free healthcare system…and truly understand his mission and know that he has devoted his life to help others without much rest…if we all could give someway even if it is just spreading the word on blogs, or on shows etc give Patch time to rest…we could help his vision and his group’s vision come true.
Patch Adams is a caring, awesome man! His message to us is so simple–just decide to do something! It doesn’t matter what you do, just do it…… Help a neighbor, befriend a lonely soul. Simple acts of kindness can multiply into great things.
Rebekah, thank you for your fabulous show!
Here’s one perspective. Some people who are so dedicated or strong in their belief system need to always have their defenses up, as they are criticised 90% of their life. I found that once Patch saw that we were empathetic to his cause, he relaxed a little.
I’ve been there, always being told what I wanted for myself was unrealistic due to my disability. My defenses were always up, striving to prove others wrong. I was dead tired at times,but the alternative (in my mind) was submitting to defeat…..
Maybe a bit of TV Comedy would indeed help Patch relax and find the happiness in his own soul.
My 2 cents!
Sandy
Sandy Morgan’s last blog post..Why I Send Cards ~ By Sandy
I didn’t and don’t see the anger some of you are refering to.
I see a man so far removed from what most of us consider “the” way to be or to present ourselves.
A man who has gone beyond the playing field in his heart, mind, and actions.
Once we cross that line we are forever-more on a different level. What seems normal and sane to most is tainted and unacceptable to the other.
We are in a very sad and frightening place with our government, it is “not” for the people anymore.
It is tainted and corrupt. We are so much closer to “not” being a free nation than most will see or believe.
And while we may be somewhat shocked by the manner the message was delivered, we should be thanking the messenger for having the knowledge and the guts to speak the truth.
We so need and want to trust and believe that we are protected from the evils of the world by being American and free…….because of this blind trust we have been manipulated down a road of no return by less than honorable powers.
Please don’t misread what I’m saying. I love this country for what it is supposed to stand for.
I love the masses who work, give, and are true to the standards. And there are many.
I also know that evil exist, how it operates and what the purpose is, and it isn’t some shady two horned being hiding in the bushes.
Maybe Dr. Patch is worn-out from too many burdens, as someone said, maybe he does need to take a step back….but just for a second consider that maybe it is “we” who should take a step forward.
In gratitude~
Bea Kunz
I’ve long been a fan of Patch Adams unflagging persistence in following his passion and his deep-seated compassion for those who are sick, hungry, poor, and refugees. The world truly does need much more love, compassion, thoughtful action, volunteerism, and willingness to perceive the truth, even when it’s unpopular.
I’m not surprised Patch happens to have spoken on a day he was tired and angry. He travels about 330 days a year around the world in very tough circumstances.
He reminds me of the leaders of the Patriots who freed our country. Most were angry about our oppression by England.
Yes, it’s not pleasant to hear some of what Patch has to say, just as it wasn’t easy, I’m sure, to hear some of the comments made by the Patriots. Yet, please listen underneath the surface and feel Patch’s sincerity. He truly is brave, brilliant, compassionate, and loving. Most of us would never even consider giving up virtually all of our material possessions and creature comforts to go wherever we are needed with an open heart, doing whatever we can to help a malnourished or dying person smile just once.
Bless you, Patch. And, get some rest. You are needed in this world of people who cannot find the time or a few pennies to donate to so many who are in pain.
Doris Helge’s last blog post..Want Joy at Work? Hire People With Disabilities-Show 008
Aloha e Rebecca,
Just a short note to say Aloha e and what interesting dialogue this interview has brought about. We so
connect with those who suffer chronic pain or who have suffered trials which mere words are hard to express . Yet there are different paths to transending .
As you know, Ho’oponopono, the art of forgiveness manifests inself by walking in peace and joy. It makes no judgments. It makes no comparisons. It leaves no one behind. It promotes practicing gratitude
everyday remembering that yesterday ends at midnight . It blames no one. It accepts kuleana (responsibility). It heals with positive self talk and is aware that what one thinks about they bring about so we seek the positive self talk. Life on earth is a school when one pauses to think about it yet we comprehend it is not easy to pause when one is suffering. Life brings us challenges; yet planted within each of us at birth, were seeds of greatness and abilities to comprehend and problem solve beyond our wildest dreams and land in joyful hope.
Imagine at 12:00 p.m. the new day begins. All wraped up in a delightful attitude of wow wonder what new lessons I will learn on this day OR what challenges we get to skillfully overcome. We get to pick positive expectancy (I get to) or the negative “do I have to?”
I am reminded in my own trial by fires that one inevitable part of living is the experience of pain. Misery, however, is a choice. No one can make us miserable without our permission. We learned at the feet of our Na Kupuna’s (grandparents) that attitude is everything, there is nothing more. Indeed life and living is about choices. We can be stuck on survive or reach beyond straight to THRIVE. Truthful reality is we get to pick which one.
These are our humble offerings on this day. As always we invite that you take what you need and discard the rest or all of it. A’ole pilikia! (no problem)
In closing we send peace, love and joy to all because indeed right where you stand each human is endowed with seeds of greatness. That makes every human being special. How do we know? Creator does not make junk! Malama Pono, Nani A. Linder