Adults often get into the spirit of the Abendscheins' visits as much as children. And sometimes, the couple inspires others to volunteer their time. A former rodeo clown imprisoned at Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna, Ill., started clowning again after the Abendscheins made several prison visits. The inmate recently told Dana about a family day appearance at the center. It was so wonderful.
Clowning provides a nice outlet for the couple, too.
Jane Abendschein assists the chairman of the Department of Surgery with research and patient responsibilities, while her husband studies how to reduce the damage that occurs when patients have surgery to lower the risk of heart attacks. Slipping into clown gear unleashes another side of their personalities. Dana Abendschein learned that he enjoyed making people laugh as a youngster test driving new magic tricks. During college, magic props were too much to haul around, so he turned to clowning instead. His wife joined the act after they married and moved to St. Louis.