When John heard from his doctor

[Bassim]

I am wondering if my sentences are grammatically correct.

When John heard from his doctor the diagnosis, lung cancer, he got up and, without saying a word, threw himself out of the window. The fall from the fourth floor would have been fatal had it not been for the bags of raked leaves which dampened the blow.

 

[J&K Tutoring]

The grammar is correct, but the sentence is not correct.

The object should follow the verb to be more clear: When John heard the diagnosis, lung cancer, from his doctor...

 

[teechar]

I would use "cushioned the impact" instead of "softened the blow" in the above.

 

[emsr2d2]

"soften the blow" (in a different circumstance) would work in the first part.

Upon hearing the diagnosis of lung cancer, John was ready to throw himself out the window. Then the doctor said "But I'm confident I can cure you". That softened the blow.