The Man Who Laughed In The Face of Death

Humor therapy is the use of laughter for the relief of pain and stress. And although laughter can not cure diseases but it can help sick people. (One can use "although" OR "but" but not both) Norman Cousins, an American journalist, was the first who found this out.

Norman Cousins was always full of energy. One day he has felt ill but have had not paid attention on to this. Meanwhile, day by day his illness became stronger and soon it already did not allow him to walk, to move his limbs, and to turn his neck. Doctors said ("told" or "gave") him their sad verdict: this is a rare bones disease and it is incurable.

Depressed Cousins laid lay (this is difficult word choice even for native speakers) in his ward and thought. He did not want to die but medicine did not help him. Once he recalled that sadness and despair destroy our organisms, whereas positive emotions heal us. So the journalist decides decided to make fun of his illness.

He asks nurses to bring him a motion picture projector and plenty of comedies. In the beginning he looks at the screen with gloom. In a day he sorrowfully grins: what a foolish idea is it! But later he begins to smile, then giggle, then laugh! Ten minutes of laughter had an anesthetic effect and Cousins got two hours of pain-free sleep.

The laughing patient began to cure himself. Finally he could walk, play tennis and even ride a horse. And most importantly, Norman Cousins could work again.

They have called him “The Man Who Laughed In The Face of Death”. After that case people use humor therapy. And there is a special profession now–medical clowns.

A wonderful story that is very well written and easily understood!!