Florida man helps others heal through music while facing health battles
By Britt Leoni
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PUNTA GORDA, Florida (WBBH) — When it comes to styles of music, 78-year-old Mark Van Patten’s taste is nothing short of particular.
But behind his protests over the perfect pitch is something soulful.
“I just hope that they feel it in their heart that, oh, this is about me,” said Mark.
Last year, Mark started writing songs with a non-profit, Songs of Love Foundation, for children going through the unimaginable.
“Some of these kids have horrible chronic illnesses, chronic brain tumors,” said Mark.
Mark is no stranger to facing the unimaginable, too.
“I was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Kidney cancer. Renal cell cancer. And I had my left kidney taken out,” said Mark.
Then, two years later, another battle began.
“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and then within two weeks of that they said, guess what, the cancer’s back,” said Mark.
Between bouts of chemo and coming to terms with a future unknown, Mark keeps listening to the bright note in the midst of it all.
“You think this is it. This is the end, and it still could be,” said Mark.
No matter the heartbreak, for Mark, music is medicine, and nothing short of magic.
“It’s very fulfilling. I love doing it. I’m going to do more,” said Mark.
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