St. Vincent puts focus on cancer patients with $4.3 million renovation project

Suffering from colon cancer, 22-year-old Craig Canape spent at least 74 days in Room 370, a bleak and tired-looking room on the third floor of Fortin Tower at St. Vincent Healthcare.

Despite its glum and antiquated look and feel, the room became a home away from home for Craigs parents, Tom and Susan Canape of Laurel. It was filled with heart. They decorated the room with family and school photos and entertained Craigs friends there routinely, even hosting dinners.

Staff brought in a refrigerator, even a big-screen TV anything to make it better.

At night, Tom transformed a cubbyhole-sized waiting room nearby into a makeshift bedroom to be near his son.

We just adapted to what we had, Tom said. It was home, and we got to be with him. There could be improvements, sure, but its hard to knock it because of the excellent care we received.

Craig, often accompanied by friends and family, would escape his dismal room to visit fourth floor where the surroundings were more pleasant and appealing. Fourth floor houses the nursery and sports a new, modern, 21st century look.

You can tell third floor is probably the last floor on the list to be renovated, said Susan with a smile. Its definitely original.

All of that is about to change as St. Vincent Healthcare prepares to embark on a $4.3 million renovation of the floor so that in the future families will be surrounded by a more pleasant, peaceful environment in addition to receiving quality medical attention.

It was in Room 370 that Craig Canape, a former football and basketball player for the Laurel Locomotives, lived out his final hours.

Tom recalls the precise moment his son died 7:15 a.m., May 18, 2013.

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St. Vincent puts focus on cancer patients with $4.3 million renovation project