Rally for the Pattersons: Overcoming Cancer and Hardship

I am a friend of Eddie and Florence and have had the pleasure of watching their family grow over the years. They selflessly give to anyone in need in any way they can. They are always the first to offer help and work so hard for everything they have. They are in need of help with recent life changes and I'm hoping our community will pull together and bless them in ways they never could imagine. This is a family that doesn't ever ask for much but needs it right now. If there has ever been a family that needs help, it's them. Here's their story.

We are Eddie and Florence Patterson and we are a family of six. Me and Eddie have been married for 16 years. We have 4 children, 1 girl and 3 boys. Our oldest is 17 and it's her senior year of high school. Our boys are 14, 9, and 3. Our oldest three kiddos are involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. They are our whole world, and we've always worked to try to give them what they need.

Eddie started having stomach pain and bathroom issues in June of 2024. His pain became more severe accompanied by severe weight loss. This debilitating pain was affecting every part of his life, he was missing work more and more, and we couldn't seem to get any answers. The local hospital and doctors' offices failed us many times. Tests were performed; misdiagnosis were given but still no pain relief. The weight loss continued. We FINALLY got an upper and lower GI scheduled for January 22, 2025. The prep for that procedure failed and the pain had increased to an unbearable level. The only suggestion we were given was to try the procedure again at a later date. We knew something wasnt right and I was tired of waiting on answers. I took him to Huntsville Hospital ER. We waited for 7 1/2 hours to be seen, but I knew I wasn't leaving until I had some answers. Once back to the room, the ER doctor ordered a CT scan of his abdomen - the very test that could have shown what was going on 6 months prior had someone taken the time to listen. The results of that test turned our world completely upside down. The CT showed a very large mass in his colon. On Thursday morning, 1/23/25, he went in for surgery and now has a colostomy bag. The surgeon came in to speak with us after surgery and told us what no family wants to hear. He had been diagnosed with rectal cancer. With this diagnosis and surgery, he has been out of work and our family of 6 is trying to make it on one income. I haven't been able to work as much as I normally do because he needs care at home with his colostomy bag and going back and forth to appointments. He is still experiencing pain at times that is very debilitating.

When things happen, they seem to happen all at once. While Eddie was in the hospital, our daughter was on her way to us when her car broke down. We later found out that her car needs a new motor. This is also her senior year and with that comes additional expenses. My little family needs help and I'm hoping and praying our community will help us pull through.