Eddie

THOSE WHO KNOW Eddie might describe him as a tough guy. He is the strong type who is a very hard worker. In fact, he is a self-proclaimed “workaholic.” He began in the roofing business at age seventeen when his brother recruited him, and, 28 years later, he is still working for Kelley Roofing as a supervisor. Eddie, 45, married his lovely wife, Stephanie, 13 years ago. Together, they have 3 fur children – two dogs, Diego and Sadie Mae, and Tink the cat. Eddie and Stephanie love to travel and take the dogs to the park in their free time.

On an otherwise ordinary day in 2022, Eddie experienced some concerning symptoms that led him to make an appointment with his doctor. Eddie was told that due to his young age, his symptoms could most likely be attributed to work strain and should self-correct soon. Unfortunately, eight months later, his symptoms returned. Eddie planned to discuss it with his doctor at his next regularly scheduled appointment. Still, his wife Stephanie urged him to take this seriously and not only see his doctor right away but to insist on a colonoscopy as well.

Eddie did just that. He took a rare day off work to have his procedure done. When he came out of anesthesia, his doctor told him the news. “You have cancer.” He met with doctors that day, and a surgery was scheduled. It was determined that Eddie had Stage 3B colon cancer. They removed a foot of Eddie’s colon; however, the cancer had spread to a lymph node. 

Today, Eddie is over halfway through his chemotherapy treatments. Through it all, he credits his wife, Stephanie, as his advocate and support system. “By the time we were meeting with doctors, she had learned everything there is to know about my diagnosis.”

Eddie learned of the Cancer Survivorship Center from a flyer at his treatment center. He and Stephanie went in for a tour feeling overwhelmed and a bit down. Maribel, the Patient Coordinator at the Center, met them and was able to reassure them. “She changed our outlook on cancer and what we thought our journey would be. Maribel and the Cancer Survivorship Center have become the calm to our storm.” Since that first visit, Eddie has become involved at the Center. He regularly attends MAAT (Memory & Attention Adaptation Training), where his therapist works with him to help overcome any cognitive impairment caused by chemotherapy. He also likes attending special activities like bingo and ribbon painting at the Center. “Every person who comes to the Center has been so uplifting,” says Eddie, “It has helped me so much to be around others who are going through what I am going through. Maribel and the Cancer Survivorship Center have been the calm to our storm.”

Eddie and his family attended the Our Colors Run Together 5K in September, where he was a big hit. He made a lot of fans as he walked in the race as a guy riding an inflatable dinosaur with a sign around its neck that read – “Strollin’ for the Colon.” 

Throughout Eddie’s journey, he has proven what everyone suspected – he is tough. But he has also shown that he is full of joy and has a great sense of humor, something his friends and family already knew. Eddie knows the Cancer Survivorship Center is possible because of generous donors like YOU. He says, “Not everyone has an amazing support system like me. The Cancer Survivorship Center provides a community for people who are going through this journey, and that is so so important. Thank you.”