SummerSimo Travel Troubles Notes and The Purring Page

The day of my birthday, turned out to be an extraordinary day at the hospital, beyond the usual hustle and bustle of saving lives. It all started when I walked into the pediatric ward for my usual rounds. A sudden silence fell, which was strange considering it was usually full of chatter and laughter.

There, in front of me, was a gigantic ‘Operation’ board game, a classic many of us played in our childhood. My colleagues, with their mischievous grins, had transformed one of our treatment tables into a life-sized version of the game. The “patient” was a custom-made doll, large as a human, with compartments filled with funny items like rubber chickens, squeaky toys, and even a large plastic bone.

They handed me a pair of oversized tweezers and challenged me to ‘operate.’ The kids, their faces lit up with excitement, gathered around, cheering me on. Each successful ‘operation’ triggered a round of applause, and the room filled with laughter each time the buzzer sounded when the tweezers hit the sides.

Even though we were in a hospital, the atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter, a much-needed respite from the daily seriousness. The children’s laughter echoed through the halls, and even some adult patients joined in the fun.

As I looked around at the smiling faces, I knew this was more than a birthday prank. It was a celebration of our shared humanity, a reminder of why we chose this profession—to bring healing and joy to those in need. The ‘operation’ ended with a round of hearty clapping and happy birthday singing.

The joy we shared that day, the laughter we spread, was the best birthday gift I could have asked for. It was a day I’ll forever cherish.