LAND O' LAKES, Fla — A Tampa Bay community is working together to help out a survivor of child abuse after he was recently admitted to the hospital with a new hurdle to overcome.
10 Tampa Bay brought the focus to Montrell Patrick's story of resilience nearly seven years ago during his high school graduation from Tarpon Springs. Solid Rock Community School took Patrick in for free.
Newspapers quoted a police officer years before who called the abuse of a 12-year-old boy the worst he'd ever seen. Now, Patrick has a new challenge after being admitted to Morton North Plant Hospital with respiratory issues.
His friend since high school, Jeremy Mooney of Land O' Lakes, launched a GoFundMe to help with medical and other expenses.
"It's tough to see him in the hospital bed," Mooney said.
Mooney said Patrick started coughing "pretty rough on and off" over the past month. However, earlier this past week, Patrick coughed up blood, which prompted the trip to the hospital.
He's remained in intensive car with a ventilator and has had to be sedated, Mooney said.
"It's just been one thing after another," Mooney said. "He's a fighter, he always has been, but you know, it's definitely just a rough situation."
Mooney met Patrick, also known to friends as Monty, during high school, where Patrick graduated at 21 years old in 2016. Mooney considers him a brother.
Mooney said his goofy and caring attitude inspires others after everything he's been through. He hopes through this GoFundMe, it can also serve as another reminder of how much the community has Patrick's back.
"Monty would drop pretty much anything and pretty much give the shirt off his back for anybody," Mooney said.
If you'd like to donate to Mooney's GoFundMe, visit this link.