Medicine of laughter

Then, he found his return ticket was put on hold by United Airlines, which had canceled flights to the Chinese mainland until April 30 and reduced flights to some other Asian countries amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"So, I'm stuck at home," he says.

After following the situation in China, Appell decided to put his vacation to good use.

"I saw some comments (on my previous shows) saying how my comedy has helped at a hard time," he says. "I felt I needed to do more."

So Appell planned the charity show at Newton North High School, where he studied, and decided to raise money for medical supplies for hospitals in Wuhan. More than 500 people came to the show, which ended up raising $12,000.

"Some people bought $10 tickets and donated $90," Appell says.

The money was later spent on more than 50 boxes of medical supplies, which were donated directly to hospitals in Wuhan through WeStar, a charity organization in the eastern United States.

Appell says he'd like to express his thanks to doctors and nurses in Wuhan.

"They are tired and suffering, sometimes without equipment. I hope these can help them, and that everyone is healthy soon," he says.

The high school principal Henry Turner was impressed by Appell's show.

"We have been thinking a lot about people in Wuhan and in China," Turner says, adding that he wished them all the best and would pray for them.

"As the child of a nurse, I know the amount of care that they put into all of the patients," Turner adds.

Nancy Marianucci, a faculty member of the school's foreign language department, identified with Appell's cause.

"We believe that we're one global community," she says.

"We are all human and we're here to help and serve each other."