What’s the best way to put a smile on distressed patients’ faces? A duck parade may be!
Turns out, patients at the University of Rochester’s Thompson Health hospital in Canandaigua, New York, are fortunate enough to witness just that every year.
Last week, a mother duck paraded the facility’s continuing care wing with her 13 newborn ducklings, the hospital’s social media page revealed.
“Every year, without fail, a mama duck chooses one of the enclosed courtyards at our M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center to lay her eggs and take care of her babies,” staff wrote in a Facebook post.
“She lets us know when she’s ready to go by tapping on the glass, and this morning, it was time for this annual rite of spring.”
The tiny ducklings can be seen going after their mother in a line as she traverses the hallways before moving out through a door into a large park-like area behind the hospital.
Staff also included a picture of patients enjoying the sight of the annual parade.
The mother duck, Spring, has been using the same path for years, and the hospital staff use signage to guide the family during their springtime parade.
“She has us trained,” a staff member joked in one of the photos shared on Facebook.
“There they go! Good luck, guys. We’ll miss you!” read the photo in which the resident duck was seen out in the grassy region behind the facility.
In addition to the patients at the hospital, the social media users were also delighted by the adorable parade.
“Thank you so much for sharing this little view of nature which so many of us would never get to see. So touching and beautiful,” one Facebook user commented.
“This just made my day! Thank You for sharing!” another wrote.
One person said: “As a healthcare executive, I am so happy to see that your current administration and staff support and encourage this beautiful duck and her family of ducklings.
“There are many hospitals that wouldn’t have the courage to do so. This is awesome to see!”
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