January 10, 2003

The MGH's oldest and dearest patient had a checkup Jan. 6 and is reported to be doing well. Padihershef, a 2,500-year-old mummy who calls the MGH Ether Dome home, underwent a rare cleaning and restoration procedure by a conservator and a team of other professionals trained in restoring ancient artifacts.

Padi — as he is affectionately called by MGHers — was removed from his coffin to have his linens cleaned and repaired and salt deposits removed from his face — all under the watchful eyes of local reporters. Both Padi and his coffin then were transported to the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum in Springfield, Mass., where he will be on display until June.

Padi was given to the hospital in 1823 as a gift from Dutch merchant Jacob Van Lennep. In the early 1960s, the hieroglyphics on Padi's coffin were finally deciphered to reveal his name, which means "gift of the god Hershef." It is believed that he was an unmarried stone cutter from the City of the Dead in Thebes.