WSET.com - ABC13Birdhouse Therapy

Reporter: Danner Evans l Videographer: Brian Whitesell

Lynchburg, VA -  Volunteers at the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center Lynchburg hope a little bit of spring will help lighten cancer patient visits and give them renewed hope.

Volunteer Bill Gorman handcrafted 22 birdhouses for display in the lobby, decorating each on his own for patients to enjoy when they come for treatment.

"You know spring time is coming and what would be better than regrowth or rebirth you know," Gorman said.

The houses have a little humor and elaborate touches.

"This is a jail bird of course and he escaped out of the side. This was the last one I did and it's got a lot of detail in it."

How does he come up with the ideas?

"Just anything that would be entertaining," Gorman said with a shrug, "I don't know that it's a gift. I think they are flattering me by having them here."

While Bill may be a little humble, he at least thinks his hobby can lighten the load for people dealing with a tough disease.

"By providing something for the folks who come here for treatment, to take their minds off why they are here, the rebirth or the blue bird houses, or the birds nesting in the healing garden or the bird feeders that your mind off the real reason why you are here," Gorman said. "I think that is important it instills hope in all of us."

Bird watching will soon be in the healing garden at the cancer center too. They are working on putting up bird houses so patients can watch the feathered friends nesting -- complete with binoculars -- for the patients watching from up in the treatment rooms.