FORT WORTH, Texas -- There were 17 days in August during which Mike Patterson was uncertain about his football playing future. After suffering a seizure during a training camp practice on August 3, Patterson, the Eagles starting defensive tackle, was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on his brain – a tangle of blood vessels. Throughout the ensuing days, Patterson and his wife Bianca consulted with four different doctors who specialize in AVM cases (as well as one seizure specialist). Every single one of them told Patterson that he would be able to resume his football career immediately and have surgery to fix the AVM at the conclusion of the season.
So on August 20, Patterson rejoined his teammates on the field.
"Guys were all worried about me when I came back and were making sure I was alright," said Patterson Friday. "It sucks that it happened, but it feels good knowing that guys back here care about you and they really think about you."
Patterson's teammates cared enough about him that they named him the recipient of the team's Ed Block Courage Award, which "honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage."
"I feel proud that my teammates voted for me, so I feel very fortunate and appreciated," Patterson said. "Everybody was pretty excited. Everybody voted for me, so I feel very fortunate and appreciated."
While the importance of his performance on the field pales in comparison to Patterson's health, head coach Andy Reid has said several times this season that Patterson may be having the best season of his life. On the year, he's accounted for 58 total tackles and 2.5 sacks, though stats only begin to measure the effect of the run-stuffing defensive tackles.
"If (coach Reid) think that it's been (my best season), then it probably is," Patterson said with a smile.
Patterson said he tries not to think about those scary times in August too much, but it does serve him as a reminder of what's important.
"Every now and then I do (think about it)," he said. "I do try to put it behind me but guys remind me about it and I feel blessed.
"You just never know what's going to happen as far as you never know your outcome. You just have to live your life every day."
