The truth after the hospital bill is paid with a glass of milk

The story of the bill of nineteenth-century American doctor Howard Kelly recorded "Pay with a glass of milk", actually only half true.

One day, a poor man knocked on the door of the house and went to the house to sell goods and make money to cover school fees. At the moment of hunger, there was only one cent left in the bag, he decided to go to the next house to ask for a meal.

Arriving at the place, the boy did not dare to open his mouth when he saw a beautiful young woman open the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a glass of water.

Knowing the other person was hungry, the young woman quickly brought a glass of milk. The boy happily took it, slowly drank it and asked: "How much do I owe you?".

"You don't owe me anything , " the girl replied. "Mother taught us that kindness does not need to repay."

"So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart," the boy said.

Leaving the young woman's home, the boy named Howard Kelly is not only physically stronger but also has more faith in life, telling himself never to give up.

Over the years, the girls are now old and sick. Local doctors could do nothing else and sent her to the city hospital.

Invited to the consultation, Dr. Howard Kelly was surprised to hear the name of the town where the woman lived. He immediately stood up, went straight to the sick room.

In a white blouse, Dr. Kelly realizes that the girl is now an old woman. He returned to the consultation room, determined to save the patient's life.

A while passed, the woman recovered. By the time she was about to leave the hospital, Dr. Kelly asked the administrative office to send him a hospital bill. The doctor looked at the paper, wrote a few lines before sending it.

Holding the bill, the woman did not dare to open it because she knew that she would spend the rest of her life paying the debt. However, by the time she looked down, she broke down because of Dr. Kelly's message:

"Already paid in full with a glass of milk.

Signed: Dr. Howard Kelly ".

According to Snopes, the story in the US has been popular since the 2000s. It appears in a series of inspirational and popular books. However, despite the fact that it originates from a true event, the story of the real life is not entirely like that.

In fact, Dr. Howard Kelly (1858-1943) is a famous physician. He is part of a group of four Johns Hopkins doctors, the first medical research university in the United States and the world's leading medical institution.

Portrait of Dr. Howard Kelly.(Photo: Johns Hopkins Medicine).

According to Audrey Davis, biographer Dr. Kelly, some details of the milk cup story have been changed. Dr. Kelly has never been so poor that she has to go shopping and beg for food because his family is very well off. In addition to the cost of studying and living, Dr. Kelly gets her parents for 5 USD per month, the amount is not small at that time. On his 21st birthday, he also received up to $ 100 from his father and a few aunts.

At the age of 22, Dr. Kelly got his first job. For a year in Colorado Springs, he bought a horse for $ 40 and received a letter for a week.

At the time of the milk cup story, Dr. Kelly had no trouble but was on her way to picnic to study the natural life. When he passed a farm, he was thirsty and asked for a glass of water and was given a glass of milk.

The biography of Davis's doctor Kelly did not mention that the woman who gave milk in the old year was seriously ill. Except that Dr. Kelly has written on the bill, this case has nothing else noticeable.

In short, Dr. Kelly was not poor and the young girl in the past did not suffer from serious illness. However, Dr. Kelly's kindness is still worthy of recognition. Although the fee is very high for patients who can pay, he is willing to provide free treatment if he meets the poor. It is estimated that Dr. Kelly treated 75% of patients without treatment. Moreover, for many years, he also took out pocket money to pay nurses to visit the sick.