It hasn’t ALL been bad…

I will admit to being pretty bummed from both the Anticlimactic Ambulance Adventure and the readmission to the hospital just matter of hours following the initial discharge, but just as they have done for my entire summer, the nurses, doctors, staff, and yes, even the clowns nursed me back to health, and on this day, provided a little comic relief as well.

When I went for Kidney Transplant back in June, I saw on the hospital’s television channel where two clowns called bingo for the patients twice a week, once on Thursday evenings, and once on Tuesday afternoons. The timing of both the kidney surgery and the heart surgery and their respective recovery periods did not allow for participation in the bingo games which kind of left me bummed out in its own little way. The one shining light during the aFib visit was that I was able to pay Bingo with the clowns.

Fazo the Clown (https://www.facebook.com/bigtopfazo) and his various cohorts entertain and spread a little joy throughout the UAB Hospital through their bingo games, trivia questions, prizes, and joy. I’ll be honest with you, friend… last Tuesday afternoon, I needed a little joy.

While flipping channels and watching some mindless television in the hospital last Tuesday afternoon (remember, we came by ambulance, with no opportunity to pack any diversionary items) we saw that the Flazo Bingo Show was about to begin. Jennifer dashed down to the nurses’ station and procured us some bingo cards. We played five cards, and won the second game! I was so excited, as the prize I envied was still available, the back scratcher is the most desired item on Fazo’s table, and I WON IT! A few moments later, I won the trivia question as well, “what’s the highest number on the bingo card?” (It’s Seventy-five, under the letter O) and was rewarded with a Mystery Prize Bag which contained other various other treasures.

For me the joy was in the victory, the small win following the various setbacks of the last couple of weeks. They delivered the trinkets with giant smiles, oversized shoes, and lots of love. I was thankful.

According to Fazo,

A REAL CLOWN is a friendly person in make up & costume that makes people smile, laugh, and brightens a weary world. A clown is NOT someone in a scary mask or make up wanting to frighten you, harm you, and some who disrespects your boundaries.

For at least a few moments on Tuesday afternoon, Fazo did brighten my world. For a few moments on Tuesday afternoon, he was another one of my heros.

Look for Fazo at church events, birthday parties, at hospitals, in parades, and at many other events doing foolish things with enthusiasm. Find him on all sorts of social media by searching for “bigtopfazo.”