The "Original" Patch Adams Makes a House Call in Bladen County

In the movie Patch Adams, Robin Williams played the lead of the dedicated medical student who believed laughter was the best prescription for his patients. The movie is a comedy with Robin Williams, that's to be expected. At Bladen Community College Thursday night the real life Patch Adams presented a powerful message that he calls "Living a Life of Joy." He dared the audience to never, ever have a bad day again and to celebrate ever second of life.
"What I stand for is the care of all people, and the inexcusability of our nation that we don't care as a gift to our citizens, not because they can pay for it."

The real-life Patch Adams is not only a doctor, but also a social activist, professional clown, performer and author. In fact he's the founder of the Gesundheit Institute, where insurance is not necessary. Patients don't have to pay. He even calls his hospital a silly hospital, even though it's a full service facility in West Virginia.

" I've clowned every day for 45 years. I've been at 10,000 death beds as a clown. I actually like clowning for everybody."