Dr. Eugene Laveroni, a vascular surgeon at Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital, has always worked with wood.

Gradually, he and his father, Eugene Laveroni Sr., now 89, discovered a passion and expertise for woodturning, a craft they still practice together.

Woodturning is the craft of using a lathe to spin blocks of wood and gouges and chisels to shape it.

Before the pandemic, Laveroni and his fellow artisans with the Michigan Association of Woodturners, made and donated items to several nonprofits, including wooden bowls to soup kitchens and spinning tops to hospital pediatric units. That tradition faded with social distancing.

Inspired by the battle his longtime medical assistant, Leslie Cataldo, is waging against an aggressive, inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis she received last spring, Laveroni elected to restore the tradition by challenging members of his group to turn wig stands for the Cancer Center at Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital.

They responded with enthusiasm, along with several members of a second group, Detroit Area Woodturners.

Laveroni recently presented the 30-piece collection he and group members crafted to the Cancer Center.

Cataldo, who is in remission, received her own personal wig stand from Laveroni, who presented it to her in hopes of communicating his gratitude, support and admiration.

“I have the first and original wig stand right here,” Cataldo said, patting it proudly. “I did lose my hair. When Dr. Lav gave me the wig stand, it had a baseball cap on it.

“I was not given good odds in the beginning,” she said. “I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family and my faith, and, so very, very blessed to have Dr. Lav in my life.”Lisa D’Andrea, director of Cancer Services for Corewell Health, said Laveroni provided patients with something beyond traditional medical care.

“This is a big deal,” D’Andrea said. “To be able to share something with a patient, something beautiful and personal, that one of our physicians made with his hands, that means a lot.

“At a time when our patients might need a little encouragement, we are grateful to Dr. Laveroni and all the amazing woodturners who donated their time and talent to do something that can provide such a powerful emotional impact.”