Blankets, stuffed animals keep child’s memory alive

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Erin Terina Maria Patton lived for 16 days. Born on Sept. 18, 2001, Tammy and Cliff Patton’s fourth child and first daughter had a number of complications.

“When I was pregnant with her, they saw on the ultrasound that she had a heart condition, which was cushion canal defect,” Tammy said. “It’s a hole in the child’s heart, usually seen with Down syndrome children.”

As time went on, more problems were discovered. Erin had pulmonary atresia, an enlarged heart and severe valve leakage, leading her to be transferred from St. John Hospital to Children’s Hospital of Detroit for surgery. There was little chance of success, but her parents elected to go ahead with it anyway.

“Our only other option was to take her off of medication that was keeping the hole open to keep her alive,” Tammy said.

As Erin was taken to Children’s Hospital via the Panda Ambulance, Tammy was given a stuffed bear wearing an EMS unit shirt. Another bear was given as Erin was taken into surgery on Oct. 2, and more stuffed animals and blankets were given as time went on. Tammy learned these animals were donated to the hospital.

“We were touched by it,” Tammy said. “We kept her stuffed animals. One of the blankets we buried with her, the other ones we kept. We know how much it means to us and our children, so we wanted to give back.”

Erin died on Oct. 4, 2001. To memorialize Erin’s life, Tammy and Cliff founded the organization Team Patton Outreach and have held a stuffed animal drive. Toys are collected between August and October and are donated to Children’s Hospital of Detroit, Ascension St. John Hospital and the Stilson Specialty Center.

Tammy and Cliff usually celebrate Erin’s birthday with a party, complete with a balloon release and cake between friends and family. But for 2023, Team Patton Outreach decided to honor Erin’s memory in a different way by making blankets. With $1,000 in fleece, Tammy and Cliff rented a space at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library on Sept. 16 and got to work.

“It went better than what we expected,” Cliff said. “We were able to make 111 blankets that day inside of a six-hour period.”

Tammy and Cliff were not alone in the endeavor. Calls for help were put out and the two parents were joined by volunteers from Wyandot Middle School and Chippewa Valley High School’s National Honor Society. About 60 volunteers came out to help from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Refreshments were donated by Little Caesars at 18 Mile and Hayes roads. Being a birthday celebration, volunteers were also treated to cake and sang “Happy Birthday.”

“It was an incredible day,” Tammy said. “It was a very good day.”

Erin is also memorized through the Erin T.M. Patton Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Wayne State University, which helps students enrolled in the School of Medicine that have a financial need. Cardiology students are the preferred recipients of the fund.

Team Patton Outreach does other activities in the Clinton Township area, such as providing lock boxes for seniors and taking kids to Detroit Pistons basketball games.

For more information visit teampattonoutreach.com.