The dictionary defines a hero as any man renowned for his courage or feats of valor, or any man admired for his character, ideals, or accomplishments. But a hero is much more than just those things. A hero must have heart, he must be able to stand up for something he believes in, he must be caring and brave. It is not fair to call just anyone a hero. A hero must be someone special to you and someone you admire. A hero is a champion, a conqueror, an idol, and your Superman. A hero is not just anyone. A hero is special.
Hunter 'Patch' Adams was born into a strict military-like family. His father ran the household like a military institute and they were constantly moving. Due to his family's frequent moves to diverse places, he learned to accept differences in people and to quickly make friends. Although he was never close to his father, he was very close to his mother. She instilled in him a sense of humor and made him want to learn. She gave him love and attention. She was very special to him. As Hunter started school, he became known as the class clown. He goofed off all the time because he got so bored with learning things that were too easy and simplistic for him. Eventually, he became interested in the diverse world of science and math. He won many small science fairs and entered, and won, the All-Europe science fair. Soon after winning one of his last science fairs, he went to spend a week with his father, who had been constantly drunk or too busy for him and his brother before. During this time, his father told him of the wars he had fought in and of his best friend who had died while saving his life, subjects which he never even talked about before. He and his father became very close during this week. A few days after, his father died suddenly of a heart attack.
Soon after, Adams and his family moved to Northern Virginia to live with his uncle and aunt for a few months before moving to West Virginia a little later. Adams became very close to his uncle and his uncle became a second father to him. He went to school and because he was in a racist town, he stood out as a person who loved everyone no matter what their skin color. Things got better for him. He started to date his first girlfriend, Donna. He dated her for quite some time. Right before he graduated, he developed ulcers in his stomach and he began to take medicine that made him sleepy most of the time.
His girlfriend inevitably broke up with him in his freshman year in college, and then, right around the same time, his uncle committed suicide. He dropped out of college and became dreadfully depressed. He was convinced he was still in love with Donna, and he wanted her back. He became obsessed with suicide. He would go and sit on the edge of a cliff almost everyday, and he would write to or about her. He was convinced that he would jump as soon as he finished, but luckily he was too wordy.
He went to his mother right after a terrible visit with Donna, and he told her that he had been trying to commit suicide and that he needed to be checked into a mental hospital. While in the hospital, Adams made many different friends. The patients in the hospital changed him, especially one of them. One of the patients, who was suffering from loneliness, made Adams realize that he was loved and he was not lonely; he had friends. It is said that this patient was the one who gave him the nickname Patch. (There is another story that says that Patch gave himself the name, Patch, because he wanted to forgo any evidence of his southern ancestry.) Also in the hospital, he realized his passion; healing people with laughter.
When he got out of the hospital, he knew that he wanted to help other people. He applied to med school and they advised him that before he enrolled that he should get his life back together. He eventually decided to try to enroll again after getting a job for awhile. He finally entered pre-med school in '64 and then, three years later, he entered med school at Medical College of Virginia. He loved to go and visit the hospital patients. He would make them laugh and do the funniest antics around them. His professors did not like his behavior, probably because of its uniqueness and non-seriousness.
Patch went on to start making his one dream into a reality. He believed that the medical system was twisted and that it cheated poor people. So, he decided that he wanted to build a hospital. But his dream was for a hospital back home in West Virginia, where he would prove his methods in day-to-day practice. At the Gesundheit Institute, as he calls it, doctors would work for peanuts, and patients would never be billed. After much fund-raising, his dream started to become a reality. His Gesundheit Institute is not completely perfected, but it is up and running. One person said of the Institute: "There, amongst beautiful mountains, hardwood forests and waterfalls, Gesundheit advocates are constructing a wholistic rural hospital and healthcare community based on the vision of what healthcare should be like. That means patient care where laughter, joy and creativity will be an integral part of the healing process. Healthcare will be provided without cost and doctors will carry no malpractice insurance. Doctors and patients will relate to each other on the basis of mutual trust, and patients will receive plenty of time from their doctors. Allopathic doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine will work side by side." Although he does not run it anymore, he still talks about it and tries to raise money for it.
Patch's theory on healing is definitely different. He believes that laughter is the best cure. He loves to go from hospital to hospital making people laugh and teaching regular doctors how to be funny for their patients. He "thinks every doctor should be a heart specialist -- a merry heart, that is."
Patch could be considered the most useful clown of the century. He uses his clown-like attitude for good. He has helped people feel and/or get better, he has stopped fights in the streets by just walking around acting and looking like a clown, and he has made an unforgettable impression on many. He is so compassionate and has never once had to give one of his patients a tranquilizer or psychiatric medication. Silliness is one of his virtues and he thinks that every doctor should possess it.
Hunter "Patch" Adams has been a physician for nearly 30 years, but he has been a clown for almost 40. He lives to make people laugh and feel good. He says that he is looking for a world where love will no longer be extraordinary, and he thinks that the role of a clown and a physician are the same: "to elevate the possible and to relieve suffering." Patch has been to many different countries with his clowns, trying to work his charms on the many different patients and underprivileged people of all shapes and sizes. He says that living in clown clothes is his gift to a world that he thinks is depressed, lonely, and lacking compassion.
Since he started his expedition to raise money for the Gesundheit Institute, he has written two books, Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter and House Calls. In 1994, he won the Institute of Noetic Sciences Award for Creative Altruism. He has come a long way in his dream of the Gesundheit Institute and he has become well-known through his movie, "Patch Adams."
Patch Adams is an incredible man, and one that I truly admire. He is definitely NOT perfect, but he has accomplished so much and has more than just a good heart. He is special and everybody should know about him!
Source : www.myhero.com
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THE REAL PATCH ADAMS
A documentary by Judith Bourque52 minutes - Copyright 2000Judith Bourque Film
Meet the real Patch Adams, medical doctor and clown whose life is portrayed by Robin Williams in the Hollywood movie "Patch Adams". Through an in-depth interview with Patch you will hear his story...about the journey from suicidal despair in his youth to the decision to devote his life to the study of how to heal through joy and laughter. The viewer also gets an inside look at Patch's project - an ideal, non-profit hospital under construction where a medically trained staff will work together with alternative practitioners. "Beneath his clownlike persona lies a great deal of wisdom, and it often falls to court jester to speak the truth that those in power need to hear." - Bernie Siegel, M.D.
Awards:Columbus International Film & Video Festival,Honorable Mention.This film was selected for viewing at the Western Psychological Association's Annual Convention, year 2000.Reviews:"This program intricately details medical doctor Patch Adams' life and unconventional medical philosophy...Commentary by Adams' supporters, social activists, and others who talk about their experiences and philosophy is equally telling. An excellent program to circulate with the popular movie, this might also find a spot in medical and nursing schools." -Booklist "Anyone who enjoyed the Hollywood version of this story...should check this documentary out...A welcome change from HMOs and managed care!" -Fellowship Magazine "'The fool performs a sacred role in the community...a teller of truth standing naked in the marketplace...confronting the powerful with playful disorder.' This commentary, from Ken Feit, aptly describes the enigma that is Patch Adams...Perfect for college courses...an effective documentary of the power of the human spirit, and one man's quest to address the problems in the American health care system." -Jennifer Harrison, North Carolina Wesleyan College "For high school and up; useful to stimulate discussion of humor, healing, and values. Recommended." -Melinda Davis, Univ. of Tennessee Law Library, MC Journal "Whether you hail 'Patch' as an example of what doctors should be like, or dislike him because of his constant in-your-face clowning, this program allows you to base your opinion on fact, not movie fiction. Recommended." -*** Video Librarian "Finally a physician who understands that wholeness means incorporating every aspect of the human experience. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the work of a true healer." -Leo G. Frangipane, M.D.
Source : www.therealpatchadams.com
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HUNTER ‘PATCH’ ADAMS, THE CLOWN DOCTOR
Hunter Campbell "Patch" Adams (born May 28, 1945 in Washington, District of Columbia) is a medical doctor, social activist, citizen diplomat, professional clown, performer, and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1972. Each year he organizes a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to Russia as clowns, to bring hope and joy to orphans, patients, and the people. In 1998 he also visited Bosnia, one of the Balkan Peninsula countries torn apart by the war that started after the break-up of Yugoslavia.
His life was the template for the plot of the film Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams. Adams is currently based in Arlington, Virginia, where he promotes a different health care model in collaboration with the institute.
Early career
After attending Wakefield High School in 1963, Patch Adams completed pre-med coursework at the George Washington University. He began medical school without an undergraduate degree, and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Medical College of Virginia, Health Sciences Division of Virginia Commonwealth University in 1973. In the late 60s, one of his closest friends (not his girlfriend as seen in the movie) was murdered. Convinced of the powerful connection between environment and wellness, he believes the health of an individual cannot be separated from the health of the family, community, and the world. While working in an adolescent clinic at MCV, in his final year of med school, he met Linda Edquist, a volunteer in the clinic and student at VCU. Soon after graduation, Patch, Linda, and friends founded the Gesundheit! Institute (originally known to many as the Zanies), which ran as a free community hospital for 12 years. He and Linda later would have two children and separated in 1997. The eldest, Atomic Zagnut Adams, was given a name indicative of Patch and his close friend Leo's personal laugh with life. His younger son's name is Lars Zig Edquist Adams.
Gesundheit! Institute
A revamped Gesundheit! Institute, envisioned as a free, full-scale hospital and health care eco-community, is planned on 316 acres (1.28 km²) in Pocahontas County in West Virginia. Its goal is to integrate a traditional hospital with alternative medicine--acupuncture, homeopathy, etc. Care will combine integrative medicine with performing arts, crafts, nature, agriculture, and recreation. The West Virginia location accepts seasonal volunteers through the website. The new hospital has not been built as Patch continues to seek funding. The current caretaker staff at the West Virginia land is actively developing educational programs in sustainable systems design targeted to medical students, university alternative break groups, and the general public. Several videos and books have also been produced including Patch Adams.
Since the 1990s Adams has supported [1] the Ithaca Health Alliance (IHA), founded as the Ithaca Health Fund (IHF) by Paul Glover. In January 2006 IHA launched the Ithaca Free Clinic, bringing to life key aspects of Adams' vision. Patch Adams has also given strong praise to Health Democracy, Glover's book written and published the same year.
In October of 2007, Patch Adams and the Gesundheit Board unveiled its campaign to raise $1 million towards building a Teaching Center and Clinic on its land in West Virginia. The Center and Clinic will enable Gesundheit to see patients and teach health care design.
Patch Adams was recently interviewed by Greater Good magazine, Greater Good Science Center.
Physician, professional clown and socialist for his commitment to providing health care for indigent and uninsured people, free of charge, without malpractice insurance, out of his home for over 25 years. He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award on January 29. 1997. [1]
Source : http://www.en.wikipedia.org/
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