What makes you laugh?

Never Forget outside our uniform we are humans, we have a weird and sometimes a bit dark sense of humor but at the end of the day we are all still kids, pranks and stupidity are medicine for keeping up with our difficult choices….

One day at the hospital, I was making my rounds, already worn out from the infinite buzz of activity, when I stumbled upon a situation that turned my tiring day into a comedic episode. As I walked past the nurses’ station, I noticed a group of nurses and doctors gathered around a computer, their faces ranging from perplexed to outright amused. Curiosity got the better of me, and I edged towards to see what was the purpose of this unusual assembly.

To my surprise, they were watching a live feed from one of the patient rooms where a particularly mischievous parrot, brought in by a patient’s family for emotional support, had somehow learned to imitate the sound of the paging system. Every few minutes, the bird would let out a perfectly timed “Dr. Smith, please report to surgery,” causing everybody who was new to the scene to sprint off, only to realize moments later that it was our feathered friend and not the real paging system. The expressions on their faces when they returned, slightly embarrassed but unable to stop laughing, were truly priceless.

Just when we thought the day could not get any funnier, one of our most stoic and serious surgeons, known for never cracking a smile, walked by. The parrot, perhaps sensing an unbeatable challenge, let out a perfect imitation of the doctor’s voice, calling for a “code blue in the cafeteria.” For a moment, everyone froze, uncertain of how the doctor would react. To our utter surprise and delight, he burst into laughter, admitting he couldn’t tell the difference between his own voice and the parrot’s imitation.

This incident became a legend in the hospital, a reminder that laughter truly is the best medicine, even in the most unexpected moments. It brought us all closer together, lightening the weight of our stressful jobs and reminding us of the joy and unpredictability that comes with working in healthcare.

Another unforgettable day opened up inside the clinic canteen, an area typically marked by the hurried intake of food among shifts instead of any form of entertainment. That day, however, I witnessed a scene straight out of a comedy cartoon that had the entire group of workers in stitches, transforming mundane lunch breaks into a memorable spectacle.

It all began when one of our most dignified and composed doctors decided to brave the canteen’s infamous vending machine. Known for its unpredictable nature – sometimes doling out snacks, other times just taking money without any remorse – it was a source of many a frustrated snack seeker. On this particular day, the doctor, in a rare moment of craving, inserted his money, selected his snack, and then… nothing. The snack dangled precariously, refusing to drop.

What happened next was pure comedic gold. A group of interns, witnessing the doctor’s plight, decided to offer their help. But instead of the usual shake, they approached the problem with a level of coordination and teamwork typically reserved for surgical procedures. One acted as the spotter, giving directions, while another applied strategic pressure to the sides of the machine. A third intern launched into a running start, delivering a unique hip-check that would make a hockey player proud. To the amazement and delight of everyone watching, the snack finally surrendered, followed by some extras that hadn’t even been paid for.

The doctor, now holding his prize and surrounded by a cheering crowd, couldn’t help but join in the laughter. For days, the tale of the “vending machine operation” was retold with much mirth, and the interns were jokingly referred to as the “vending machine surgical team.” It was a moment of unexpected joy and camaraderie in the canteen, reminding us all to find humor in the little things and that sometimes, it takes a team to tackle even the most mundane challenges.