1st Salman patties a disaster

Sometime last month I posted a message regarding the making of salmon patties. And I got a lot of responses. However, I was making these for my dad and tried to keep it simple and it was a mess. I made the patties and placed them on a plate and took them to his home for him to fry later on. This is what I did.

I opened two cans of Deming's Alaska Red Sockeye Salmon and poured the contents into a mixing bowl. A lady from my building said to include the juice as it gives the patty more flavor. I did that. I added two eggs, one for each can, which I whisk before I added, and then I added a finely chopped onion. I was really unsure about the amount of crackers and I stated off with half of one of those four tubes that you get in a box, crumbled them and mixed everything up. Still too lose, so I added the remaining half and even though I was able to form patties, they still felt lose, but I though once they were on the plate, in the fridge until my dad made them, they might "harden" up enough to stay together. I was hopeful that my dad would like them.

I told him to be honest as if I did something wrong, I did not want to repeat it in the future simple because he did not want to hurt my feelings. He made them and said they were bad. He said they fell apart every time he turned them over and just did not taste good, not like my mom made. I felt quite bad as I wanted them to be good for him.

Based on the above, would you PLEASE help me and tell me what I did wrong?

Lastly, if you have a parent, friend, anyone who cooks something you really enjoy, please get the recipe from them while you can. Do not do as I am doing and regret not having done so while you had the chance.

Thanks, Caesar