Gallbladder issues almost killed State Theatre Antiques owner Ken Canty. A GoFundMe has been set up for expenses.
Ken Canty is a master salesman.
At State Theatre Antiques, his Plant City shop on West J. Arden Mays Boulevard, Canty is known to spitball over prices of Americana antiques: from early-1900s candy displays to light-up jukeboxes and framed movie posters.
“What he does is so cool,” Mia Roach, store manager, said. “It’s not like anything in Plant City. For people who love and appreciate antiques, this is like the cream of the crop.”
On Sunday, Aug. 7, Roach opened the shop without Canty for the store’s most loyal customers to browse. For the foreseeable future, Roach will be running the show. One month ago, Canty had a gallbladder attack.
He began throwing up so violently that he ripped open the area of his esophagus that connects to the stomach. He had to have an emergency, four-hour surgery the following day. Though he’s recently been moved from critical to stable condition, Canty has a long — and expensive — road to recovery.
Roach, along with Canty’s girlfriend, Carol Norton, and friend, Jim Reed, have set up a GoFundMe for him.
An Uphill Battle
It started with a gallbladder issue.
A doctor’s visit showed that Canty’s gallbladder was too infected to move forward with surgery. He was given antibiotics to clear it up and was scheduled for a one-month checkup. Though he felt better on the antibiotics, his gallbladder attack in early July created more problems. The ripped esophagus needed immediate attention.
“Only 49% of the population lives from something like that,” Roach said. “He had food and stomach acids coming out.”
Though he made it through the surgery, Canty had other problems. Scar tissue had grown around his already-infected gallbladder, and he’s still facing intestinal infections. His kidneys had almost completely shut down because of the overload on his system, and he had to be put on dialysis. Unsure if he was going to pull through, a chaplain was brought in to prepare for the worst.
But Canty made it to his first stage of recovery.
“He’s only been awake for a few days,” Roach said Aug. 7. “He was in a sedative state and on a ventilator.”
A cap has been placed in Canty’s throat, helping him breathe on his own without assistance from an oxygen tank. Friends and family members must wear gowns and gloves when they visit.
“Even when he was out of it, we were just encouraging him that he had to fight,” Roach said. “On some level, I know he heard us.”
Now awake, Canty’s medical bills are piling up.
“He’s got a long road ahead of him for sure,” Roach said. “How much does being in the ICU for three and a half weeks cost you? I can’t even imagine.”
Canty’s immediate priority is learning how to walk again. While he originally lost all ability to move, he can now lift his arms and move his legs slightly. He’ll be in the hospital for at least three more weeks and won’t be released until he can walk again. He’ll have to continue his dialysis multiple times per week.
Doctors are currently unable to determine if the dialysis will be short term or needed for the rest of his life.
Roach, along with Norton, are hoping the community will lift up an individual who has helped breathe life into Plant City’s Historic Downtown.
Drumming Up Business
It was Canty’s mother who taught him the art of antiquing. She used to sell them out of the trunk of her car.
Canty has been collecting for nearly 40 years. The Seffner resident began selling his overflow, eventually turning it into a business in the heart of downtown. Prior to running State Theatre Antiques, he did sales for ADT Securities before retiring.
His sales skills are put to use every time a customer walks into his shop.
“He’s relentless,” Roach said. “He is a master salesperson. He has a soft spot for pretty women. He knows how to do it. He’s got the gift.”
Canty’s business has brought in customers to what was a once-shuttered building in downtown. Once the State Theatre, Canty picked the building for his antique store because of his own theatrical background. He once served as the drummer for Robert Goulet. He’s played for the Florida Orchestra, overseas and on Broadway.
“It was a natural way to bring the two worlds together,” Roach said. “It was a perfect fit for him. He took a building that has sat empty for 20-plus years … and has put his blood, sweat, tears and almost every penny he has into this building. If Plant City could just honor him in some small way for saving one of (its) most unique buildings, that would be a wonderful way to say thank you.”
For the immediate future, fundraising will be Canty’s main source of income. State Theatre Antiques has closed its doors, with Roach opening for preferred customers.
“He’s got a long road ahead of him,” Roach said. “We’re just trying to get his life to a point where he doesn’t have to worry about it when he comes home.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
