Live Jazz Music Soothes Patients Awaiting Cancer Treatment
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(Baton Rouge) - Patients in the waiting room of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center on October 13 could have closed their eyes and imagined they were far away from receiving treatment for cancer. Trumpet player Leroy Pero and Don Groh on keyboard played light jazz that had people tapping their toes and moving their heads to the rhythm of old favorites. "This kind of keeps your mind off everything," said Larry Stokes, one of those enjoying the entertainment by Don Groh & Friends.
A free integrative therapies initiative of the Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins, relaxing music is offered twice a month as an opportunity to rejuvenate and recharge the mind, body and spirit. "This is such a treat," said one patient. "It's so uplifting."
Pero and Groh have been playing together professionally for quite a while. But it wasn't until Pero was a patient at Mary Bird Perkins that the idea to give a free performance for the patients came up. "I used to listen to jazz during my treatments," said Pero. "James (Nosacka, radiation therapist) and I talked about jazz a lot. I guess word got around," he smiled. Pero explained that when he was asked to play for the patients and talked to his friend Don Groh about it, they were both very excited. "We usually play at weddings and at church. This was something really special."
Mary Bird Perkins is looking for others interested in volunteering to provide soothing background music for one hour twice a month. Perhaps you play the violin, the harp, a cello? Are you a graduate music student? For more information, please call Mary Livingston at (225) 215-1546.
The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is the most comprehensive cancer program in the region offering patients the convenience of receiving high-quality, advanced cancer care in one location, close to home. The Cancer Program offers surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and has been accredited by The American College of Surgeons since 1992 -- the gold-standard for community-based cancer care. This program was selected for the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Cancer Centers. For more information on our cancer program and the NCCCP pilot, please visit www.ololrmc.com or www.marybird.org.
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Photo 1 Caption
Trumpet player Leroy Pero and Don Groh on keyboard entertain patients in the waiting room of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center on Essen Lane.