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L.I. Contractor Donates Services To Build Cancer Patient Special Apartment

MASSAPEQUA PARK, NY (CBSNewYork) - When a Long Island contractor heard about the story of a cancer patient, he had to help.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall On The Story

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Gary Zaccaro is the owner of Ambassador Home Improvement and heard about a Massapequa Park man who has leukemia, and because of his weakened immune system, cannot be near his family, including his two young children.

So, Zaccarro spent $35,000 building a basement apartment for 36-year-old John Sopack.

Zaccaro said he knew he needed to help.

"When I went there and I heard the whole story and I saw his 2-year-old and 4-month-old, it hit me even tougher and when I saw the wife, and listening to her and preparing for the worst, I said I need to step up," Zaccaro told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall. "Unbelievable to think about having kids in your own house that you really can't play with them if they're not feeling great if they even have a slight cough or even a sneeze. So, pretty much we had to build him like Fort Knox, kind of, inside his own house."

Sopack remains in the hospital and was not available for an interview. He is scheduled to return home next month.

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