Random reminder

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 23

Random reminder

PUSS IN THE CORNER Major heart surgery is not to be recommended as a pleasant diversion, but at Dunedin Hospital not long ago four men recovering from such operations developed a camaraderie and a sense of mischief which helped immensely in their convalescence. They were in Room 10, and three were from Christchurch, the fourth a spunky over-60 from Napier. The Napier man was responsible for starting the game. He was impatient to get home, so invented a colourful story about his pregnant cat. This is a teachinng hospital, so there is an army of eager-beaver young student nurses and social workers, all geared to alleviating suffering humanity. The Napier man found them ripe for the picking. At every opportunity, he feigned

concern for his pregnant cat, alone, and unattended in distant Napier. He had in mind the expedition of his release. One social worker, a student, was all set to contact a Napier welfare agency to look into, and after, the poor creature. The regular staff were in on the joke, as he told his story to a student nurse, just as all four men were being tested for temperatures and blood pressures. All four got the giggles, and the suppressed laughter played havoc with their graphs. . Room 10 came to be referred to by the staff as “that ward” but-“that ward” had its reward. The Napier man was the first to return home, and the four, by now firm friends, had a merry old time as the farewells were made. He really did have a cat at home. In fact,‘he had two. were both Toms.