Let's make the difference!

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. – Mother Teresa

Why not make our presence as well as absence felt? Why not make the difference in our lifetime? Are we competing with others or ourselves? What difference are we making to become global citizen? Can even a single act or thought change our lives?

Around the turn of the century, Dr. Charles
and Dr. William Mayo (Mayo Brothers) organized medical professionals in a new way to give better care for patients. They created a system that allowed doctors to take the time to thoroughly investigate patient problems and to quickly and easily get help from other specialists. The system was built on the idea that two heads are better than one and five are even better. The idea of “Collective wisdom” resulted in four hospitals and three clinics in three states of USA, employing more than 40,000 physicians, scientists, nurses and allied health workers, running under “Mayo’s Clinic”.

The accidental publication of the news “the merchant of death — the Dynamite king dies” changed Sir Alfred Nobel’s mind and then he dictated that his fortune be used to establish the Nobel prizes! Even the family members were shocked to learn this after his death.

This is a story about a poor boy, named Howard who used to sell goods from door to door to pay his way through school. One day he was hungry and decided that he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a glass of water. She thought he looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied and added. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said… “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard left that house, the act of kindness made him feel stronger physically. He had been ready to give up and quit. Now his faith in God and man had further strengthened. He grew up to become a doctor.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in the specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. After a long struggle, the battle was finally won.

Dr. Kelly requested the accounts office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the corner and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words… “Paid in full with one glass of milk”.

Dr. Howard Kelly was a distinguished Gynaecologist who, in 1895, founded the Gynaecologic Oncology division at Johns Hopkins University. He was one of the four great men who made Johns Hopkins famous. He made Kelly’s clamp, Kelly’s stitch for urinary incontinence, Kelly’s red rubber pad for Labour patients & medical illustrations.

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