An old fellow came into the hospital truly on death's door due
to an infected gallbladder. The surgeon who removed the
gallbladder was adamant that his patients be up and walking
in the hall the day after surgery, to help prevent blood clots
forming in the leg veins.
Once an hour the nurses walked the patient in the hall, a
nurses aide on each side with his arms over their shoulders.
Behind them the floor nurse stomped along, gesticulating with
all kinds of fearsome devices and explaining just what kind of
enema he would need if he stopped walking.
After a week, the patient was ready to go home. His family
came to pick him up and thanked the surgeon profusely for
what he had done for their father.
The surgeon was pleased and appreciated the thanks, but
told them that it was really a simple operation but that they
had been lucky to get him to the hospital in time.
"But doctor, you don't understand," his daughter said, "Dad
hasn't walked in over five years!"
