He also estimates having been at somewhere around 10,000 death bed’s of the sick and elderly, and holding several thousand children on the same day that they died from starvation… WOW… Just wow.Īs an activist myself, this man’s sacrifice (which I can almost guarantee he would never call it such, as what he does comes purely from a place of love) is humbling. Patch Adams with Syrian refugees and a fellow clown worker inside a refugee camp/ Photo Credit: Nora Rowleyĭuring this time, Patch has traveled abroad 250-300 days a year - for over 28 years - and hasn’t been home for longer than 2 weeks in a row.

This is what inspired me to research the real Patch Adams.įind the perfect fit with Prime Try Before You Buy So if you haven’t seen the film, I recommend checking it out.Īfterwards I couldn’t help but wonder, who was this great man who pursued his convictions in spite of intense opposition? What was he doing now? And was his story accurate, as Hollywood is well reputed for entertainment and propaganda, rather than reliable history. Unfortunately this choice is met by great opposition by the authorities who are hostile towards his unorthodox ways, and Patch must also navigate personal pain and loss during the process. He does this by dressing up as a clown and using humor to connect with patients. More than just making it free, however, Patch believes that patients should not be treated conventionally, but psychologically and spiritually by making them feel love, laughter, friendship and safety, in spite of whatever disease or condition they may have. While there, he learns that the doctors are not truly concerned for the well-being of their patients, which then this inspires Patch to enter the medical industry with the revolutionary approach of making health care free and available for all.

The late Robin Williams on the left & the real Patch Adams on the right.įor those who haven’t seen the movie, the story is about a man who commits himself to a mental institution because he is suicidal.

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