One afternoon, a sweet elderly woman called St. Joseph’s Hospital. Her voice was soft and a bit shaky, filled with concern.
“Hello,” she said gently. “I was wondering if I could speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing.”
The hospital operator responded warmly, “Of course, ma’am. I’d be happy to help. Do you know the patient’s name and room number?”
There was a pause on the line. Then the woman said, “Yes, it’s Norma Findlay, Room 302.”
“Alright, please hold for a moment while I check with the nurse’s station,” the operator replied.
After a couple of minutes, the operator returned with a cheerful voice. “Good news! The nurse says Norma is doing just fine. Her blood pressure is excellent, her blood work looks great, and Dr. Cohen has even scheduled her discharge for tomorrow.”
A soft sigh of relief came from the woman. “Oh, thank you so much. That’s such a blessing. I’ve been so worried about her. God bless you for taking the time to find out.”
The operator, touched by her gratitude, smiled and asked, “Is Norma your daughter?”
There was a brief silence, then the woman replied, “No, dear... I am Norma Findlay in Room 302. But no one here ever tells me anything!”
TRUE STORY. Moral? Sometimes, if you want to know how you’re doing… you just have to ask!
But Grandma Norma isn’t the only one with surprises up her sleeve. Let me tell you about another gem: Grandma Edna.
Every year, Grandma Edna made her routine visit to the doctor. She was sharp, spirited, and always had something funny to say.
During one check-up, her doctor asked in his usual polite tone, “So, Mrs. Edna, how have you been feeling lately?”
“Oh, just fine, Doctor,” she replied with a smile. “But I do have one little problem.”
The doctor leaned forward, concerned. “Go on.”
“Well,” she said matter-of-factly, “I seem to be passing gas quite a bit. Nothing painful, and honestly, it’s not even embarrassing — they’re silent and completely odorless. In fact, I’ve probably let out about ten of them since I sat down… but you wouldn’t know, would you?”
The doctor blinked, slightly amused, and began scribbling on his notepad.
“Well, thank you for being honest, Mrs. Edna. I’m going to give you these pills. Take them twice a day and come back in a week, alright?”
A week later, Edna returned to the clinic — and this time, she didn’t look quite as cheerful.
She marched into the doctor’s office with her arms crossed and an indignant frown. “Doctor, I don’t know what those pills were, but now my gas smells horrible!”
The doctor looked up from his chart, grinning.
“Excellent,” he said. “Now that we’ve fixed your sense of smell… let’s work on your hearing.”
Moral of the story? Life may come with a few surprises — but a good laugh (and maybe a second opinion) never hurts!
Here’s hoping this story brought a smile to your face. Have a wonderful day, and don’t forget to check in on your own Room 302 every now and then — just in case no one else is telling you how you’re doing! 😊