Our Honolulu
Hospital an unlikely place for a great party
By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist
On a scale of one to 10, this Christmas party rated at least 9 1/2. Ben King got out of his wheelchair to drive over from Kailua. Josephine Perreault, 71, made a grand entrance doing the hula.
A Shirley Temple chorus line ranging from 198 to 105 pounds performed "The Good Ship Lollipop" to a honky tonk piano.
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd never believe that this took place Friday at Castle Medical Center as a reunion for patients in the progressive care unit. I went to find out why anybody in his or her right mind would go back to a hospital if they don't have to.
Irene Dowdy from Waim?nalo had a hernia and a cyst removed. They let her out April 8. Here she was back again in a green gown and a jade pendant to set off her strawberry red hair. She rummaged in her purse to show me her invitation.
"I love this place," she bubbled. "They're so good to me."
Ben King of Kailua was discharged after foot surgery two weeks ago. He explained from his wheelchair why they couldn't keep him away: "I had never been in a hospital. I had so much fear. It turned out to be almost a joyful experience. They taught me how to drive again.
"These are the most wonderful people. I feel overwhelmed by how well I've been treated."
Josephine Perreault, the hula dancer, called herself a frequent flier to Castle Medical Center but she doesn't mind a bit. She's going to come to every reunion from now on: "I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is a wonderful hospital."
Meanwhile, 30 kindergarten elves in red from St. Ann's School formed a circle around the piano and sang a song with expansive gestures about "There's a star in the sky that calls to me from way far away." One young man could scratch his ear and point at the sky at the same time.
But most of the talent came out of the woodwork in the hospital. They baked pies and cakes, led the singing ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Happy Days Are Here Again") and played Santa Claus. Patients made the gifts.
"That's a mighty skinny Santa Claus," I observed to Daniel Kanekoa of Kailua who's never spent a day in the hospital. "That's all right," he said. Kanekoa explained that exercise keeps him fit. He came to the party because he got an invitation. His son had his feet amputated at the hospital.
I asked Peachy Lenchanko, age 80, of Kane'ohe why she was in the hospital. "I was sick," she said reasonably. Peachy said she'll attend a reunion every time she gets an invitation: "I've have to come and see the nurses. They're so nice."
The honky tonk piano player, Ramona Cordiero, is the mother-in-law of nurse Joleen Cordiero. She said, "My greatest thrill is seeing the patients come alive singing Christmas carols. Then I'm grateful that God gave me this talent."
Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.
