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“Paid in full with one glass of milk”. Dr Howard Kelly (true story)

by Laughter Brothers

“Paid in full with one glass of milk”. Dr Howard Kelly – a true story

This is a story about a poor boy, named Howard who used to sell goods from door to door to pay his way through school. One day he was hungry and decided that he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a glass of water. She thought he looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied and added.

“Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said… “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard left that house, the act of kindness made him feel stronger physically. He had been ready to give up and quit. Now his faith in God and man had further strengthened. He grew up to become a doctor.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in the specialists to study her rare disease. Dr Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. After a long struggle, the battle was finally won. Dr Kelly requested the accounts office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the corner and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words…
“Paid in full with one glass of milk”.

Dr Howard Kelly was a distinguished Gynecologist who, in 1895, founded the Gynaecologic Oncology division at Johns Hopkins University. He was one of the four great men who made Johns Hopkins famous. He devised the Kelly’s clamp, Kelly’s stitch for incontinence, Kelly’s red rubber pad for labour patients & medical illustrations etc.