Published Sunday, September 15, 2002
FARRELL, GREENVILLE
2lines
Herald Staff Writer
"Would you like a visit from a clown today?" Miz Frisbee asks patients as she knocks on the doors of their rooms.
If they say yes, Miz Frisbee and her partner, Mr. Pretzel, go on in to bring smiles to the faces of the afflicted.
If they say no, there's no hard feelings. Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel just leave them a sticker and wish them a good day.
Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel, also known as Charlotte and Jim Cochran of Greenville, have been visiting patients at UPMC Horizon Farrell and Greenville, St. Paul Homes in West Salem Township and White Cliff Nursing Home in Hempfield Township since June.
They work through a ministry at their church, Living Word Christian Center in Greenville, and also make community appearances, such as in parades.
Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel, both 68, have been retired for two years. They started out their clown routine by visiting relatives and friends in the hospital. They had been trained as clowns and wanted to bring them a little cheer.
"God really showed us to do it," Miz Frisbee said.
In June, Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel became official volunteers at UPMC Horizon.
"It's real rewarding," Miz Frisbee said. "We see different people every time we come."
Miz Frisbee said hospital training is "on-the-job training."
"If you have a queasy stomach, it ain't going to work," she said.
Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel have permission to go everywhere in the hospital except the intensive care unit and the maternity ward.
It takes them an hour and a half to don their costumes and makeup. They enter the hospital already dressed and answer only to "Miz Frisbee" and "Mr. Pretzel" when they are in costume.
Before visiting patient rooms, Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel check in at each nurse's station to check on which patients they can visit.
"We try to be very careful of the rules," Miz Frisbee said. "If they are sleeping we leave them a sticker."
Upon entering a room, if the patient gives them permission, Miz Frisbee asks if the patient received a toothbrush from the hospital.
She then produces her own foot-long toothbrush, telling the patient it also works great as a back-scratcher.
Mr. Pretzel -- so named because he gets things twisted up -- makes each patient a balloon dog, which Miz Frisbee reassures them won't eat their dinner, drink their water or mess in their beds.
Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel present a variety of tricks and visual gags before leaving the patients with "clown bandage" or smiley face stickers.
"People do enjoy it. It surprises me," Miz Frisbee said. "They really get into it. They really like it."
She said one time she told a patient a joke about her frog needing a "hoperation." He responded, "I hope it doesn't croak."
No matter how sick patients are, they usually at least crack a smile for Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel.
"It's just a comfort thing. Showing you can laugh is the best medicine. No co-payment required," Miz Frisbee said.
Miz Frisbee and Mr. Pretzel do not visit the hospitals and nursing homes purely for the patients. They also cheer up the staff.
"Nursing homes and hospitals can be sad," Miz Frisbee said. "We're not here just for the patients. We're here for the whole treatment team."
As they walk down the hallways, Miz Frisbee waves her squeaky glove at the doctors, nurses and staff members who pass by. The nurses at the nurse stations greet them enthusiastically when they enter the floor, and they delight the staff and patients alike with their jokes and props.
"Laughter is contagious," Miz Frisbee said. "Spread it around."