Larry Edwards

At the age of 17 Larry Edwards began working as a carpet installer, a trade he stayed with for the next 37 years. During that whole time he only worked for three companies, the most recent being Cawood Flooring Systems in Blue Ash, Ohio. Not even a case of transverse myelitis (neurological disorder caused by inflammation across the spinal cord) incurred at age 27 could keep him down, even though it involved extensive ongoing physical therapy as part of his recovery. On October 29, 2014 Larry went to the hospital after a period of not feeling well. The diagnosis was heartbreaking.

He was also shown to have a degenerative disc disease, all this at the age of 55! Larry has two grown children and for the past 10 years has lived alone in a single wide mobile home in the northern Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio. Larry's sister Cathy, who lives in California, has been working with him to get his home in better working condition. Together they have been working with PWC, (People Working Cooperatively) an organization whose mission is to perform critical home repairs and services so that low income home owners can remain in their homes living independently and healthier in a safe, sound environment. Larry's window air conditioner was old and only working intermittently, so Cathy reached out to the foundation after finding us through a web search to ask for a portable air conditioner. This was an item not covered by the PWC.

According to Cathy, "Even though Larry's cancer is in remission, I say my prayers every day that Larry can find comfort with his new reality and can find joy in his remaining time here on earth – and that his time remaining is a very long one too." For our part, we hope Larry enjoys his air conditioner for many more hot and humid southern Ohio summers!