Unexpected Graces Unveiled within a Cancer Treatment Facility
In the heart of Rochester, New York, Dr. Luis Mendez, a dentist by profession, has found an unusual yet heartwarming way to offer solace to those battling cancer. By playing the piano, he creates a soothing environment in the Wilmot Cancer Center, where he sometimes performs before his shift or during lunch breaks.
Dr. Mendez's musical journey began when he was gifted a Winkelmann Braunschweig 1837 piano by Lucille Muench, a friend of Harley Bowman. Muench, who was moving to Virginia, had the piano to give away and, moved by Dr. Mendez's piano playing at the cancer center, decided to gift it to him.
The first time Harley Bowman heard Dr. Mendez play was in the Wilmot Cancer Center lobby. Bowman, who had recently completed his first meeting with his radiation oncologist and had his cancer surgically removed a couple of weeks prior, was waiting for his wife to pick him up. Touched by the melodies wafting through the lobby, Bowman hired movers to transport the piano to Dr. Mendez's home.
Dr. Mendez's piano playing has become a source of comfort for many patients at the Wilmot Cancer Center. Some have even shared that his music was their first gift after receiving cancer-free news. Patients approach him to share their stories and thank him for his music, which he considers a ministry.
During a recent gathering at his home, Dr. Mendez shared stories about his family, his love for piano, and his decision to become a dentist. The evening was filled with music, laughter, and stories, a testament to the healing power of music and the bonds formed in the face of adversity.
As Dr. Mendez continues to play the piano at the Wilmot Cancer Center, he hopes to bring a touch of comfort and solace to those in need, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey.
- Dr. Mendez's piano playing, a source of comfort for many patients at the Wilmot Cancer Center, has become a ministry for him, as some patients have shared that his music was their first gift after receiving cancer-free news.
- In the heart of Rochester, New York, Dr. Mendez, a dentist by profession, uses music to create a soothing environment in the Wilmot Cancer Center, playing the Winkelmann Braunschweig 1837 piano that was gifted to him by Lucille Muench.
- The healing power of music was evident in a recent gathering at Dr. Mendez's home, where stories were shared about his family, his love for piano, and his decision to become a dentist, filled with music, laughter, and bonds formed in the face of adversity.
- As Dr. Mendez continues to play the piano at the Wilmot Cancer Center, he hopes to remind those in need that they are not alone in their journey, and that health-and-wellness, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise are not the only aspects to consider in life, with entertainment and music playing a significant role too.
