Volunteers for the hospital look for a new way to bring cheer
We are part of an integrative team to promote healing. We do it through magic moments, laughter, and free hugs.
Bumper T Caring Clowns understand the healing power of humor. This nonprofit organization is active in five states, including South Carolina. Members train volunteers to be “smileologists” to make a difference for those who are in the hospital.
I am Dr. Sing A Song, also known as Kim Cordell. A few of my clown friends are Dr. Geezer (aka Bob Mason), Dr. Silly Goose (aka Judy Volkman), and Dr. Quackenbush (aka Bruce Chodosh). We chose names that reflect our personalities and interests.
We have been clowning together at five Charleston area hospitals since Dr. Geezer brought the program from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was trained by the original Bumper T. Caring Clown. Our mission is to bring humor and healing to people who are in hospitals and also to their family and friends. Our joy often spills out into the hallways and waiting rooms, but we concentrate on individuals in their hospital room.
I started as a volunteer at MUSC Children’s Hospital seven years ago. I am a retired school teacher and wanted to do something for the children who could not be in school. So I started “The Art of Living” and was painting with Children in the Atrium, which was relaxing and therapeutic. Then, it was announced during orientation, that Caring Clowns were needed. That sounded fun, so I signed up. I met Dr. Geezer, who trained me in the subtle art of silliness.
I am not great singer or famous actress, I cannot juggle or make balloon sculptures, but I learned that we are not in the hospital to entertain as much as we are there to listen. We are part of an integrative team to promote healing. We do it through magic moments, laughter, and free hugs.
We dress as doctors in scrubs and a lab coat, and wear just a little makeup and a red nose so that the staff and the patients know we are there to bring cheer and not to do painful procedures. We pass out happy stickers and often do a little magic trick or tell some jokes to add joy to what can be an uncomfortable environment. Even the custodians smile when they see us — they like to wear the happy stickers. We offer nose transplants and listen to funny bones. I like to sing with patients because that lifts their spirits and takes away anxiety.
We never know what we are going to see when we enter a room, so we carry a bag of props that may be helpful with our medical humor. I have a magic coloring book with pictures that disappear. My stethoscope has a big ear to hear sounds not really there. Sometimes, I go into a room with teenagers who roll their eyes at our goofy get-ups. I ask, “Would you like to hear the dumb joke of the day?” When they say yes, I open with, “What do you call a pig with a black belt in karate?” Pause and then answer, “A pork chop!” This often leads to an exchange of silly jokes.
One of my favorite moments was walking into a room and asking a woman her name. The minute she said “Elvira,” I looked at Dr. Doodle Dog, one of my clown friends, and we started singing “My heart’s on fire for Elvira”, and then everyone in the room sang the chorus, “Giddy up, a giddy up, a giddy up, a mow mow,” and burst out laughing.
It has been an honor to be a member of the Bumper T Caring Clowns. They truly have hearts full of love. Even though we have not been able to go into the hospitals or nursing homes for six months since the pandemic started, we are looking for creative ways to stay active. So we have used this time to do Zoom presentations on “The Healing Power of Humor.” We have created live videos with sing-alongs, and pre-recorded videos reading stories, so that anyone can tune in for a little cheer and diversion. We wear face masks that have smiles and red noses on them. This always draws attention. Anyone who tells me, “I like your mask,” gets treated to a dumb joke of the day. Do you know the difference between the bird flu and the swine flu? One needs tweetment, the other needs oinkment.
If you would like to know more about the organization, or wish to sign up for training, please visit our website at BumperTCaringClowns.org.
We also have a Facebook page!
