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John Mooney – Victim of a Serious Accident

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John Mooney – Victim of a Serious Accident – Condition Update

This update must start by giving a HUGE thank you to all of you that have taken the time to reach out to John, call and send get well best wishes. John is aware of very single comment and good wishes posted to the “go fund me” site and sends his heartfelt thanks to all. The money donated and the kindness shown towards John is helping him deal with and cope with the enormous changes going on in his life.

The John Mooney Recovery Fund has been set up. Disbursements from the John Mooney Recovery Fund will be made via HeroPlan.Org a Private Foundation managed by Mr. Erik Olson of Williams, Jarrett, Smith & Co., P.C., a CPA firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This US organization has been selected to ensure proper management of the fund and to gain tax relief for donations made.

John's Update

There is no “sugar coating” this – things have been tough for John since his accident. No doubt, losing the ability to be as active as you were, brings a multitude of challenges not only to John but to the family too.

The weight that has fallen on the shoulders of John’s wife Pauline is insurmountable. Maintaining a full time job so that insurance remains in place and holding down now a second full time job once she gets home as John’s full time care provider.

John has been at home for the past 7 weeks. Discharged from the spinal injury rehabilitation unit, TIRR in Houston. There, John had great support daily. Physical Therapist Roel who kept John moving and gaining some dexterity. John’s Occupational therapist Ashley, who John says is the “best in the world”. Mollie and Sarah, his respiration therapists and Jenny and Juilin his nursing team all of whom treated John from the 1st day of his arrival to the last day when he departed.

John’s daily routine in TIRR consisted of sessions in hand dexterity, arm cycles where he built up to 39 RPM’s from just 13 RPM. The team there took John to the gym where they got John to stand assisted in a frame allowing his body to overcome the challenges of low blood pressure brought on by being in bed or in a sitting position for weeks. This team trained family and visitors how to conduct stretching exercises and at the time of leaving TIRR, had John blasting out the assisted standing reps - 3 sets of 10.

Due to COVID 19, visits to TIRR to see John were limited to one patient a day. Wife Pauline arranged a continuous visitation schedule list, managing a balance between family, friends and colleagues.

During his nine-week stay at TIRR, John’s discomfort showed. A surgical collar prevented effective use of his jaw restricting communication. His experience with his tracheotomy was tough to witness on some days. Blockages in his lungs caused major breathing difficulties which were cured by a brutal suction method to his lungs. As if he hadn’t gone through enough at this stage!

Life at Home

There’s no denying it, the transition coming home has been tough. Physically, mentally and emotionally. The adjustment from leaving the house that fateful day of the accident in February fully active, to coming home in a wheelchair with restricted movement to his whole body. Nothing prepares you for this.

The love of John’s family is his biggest support. The day he arrived home saw the grandkids eagerly waiting for John to arrive. Each held a “Welcome Home” board each individually decorated to welcome home “Pops”. They had not seen Pops for nearly 3 months.

John’s house is going through some major modifications. This is where donated funds are being spent. The lounge has been cleared and made into John’s bedroom. The bathroom is being remodeled to incorporate a wheelchair accessible shower area. Doorways have been widened to allow wheel chair access in preparation for when John is able to operate and function his chair himself. At the front of the house, access ramps have been fabricated and installed to allow John outside.

A caring team has been put in place to assist with John’s daily needs. This is a challenge in itself, how to match what was provided at TIRR so John’s progression can continue? For those at home in the UK, there is no NHS system in the US and if not covered by insurance, all care is a direct cost. This is where your kind donations have gone to work and providing John with a level of care he needs. This care level will increase and reduce as required but in this early stage of coming home, the funds raised through everyone’s kind donations are supporting this transition.

John’s progress path is long and with it comes cost, so we continue to pull on the generosity strings of those able to help. This update shows a little of what the donations are being used for but the list of expense continues to grow. So again, for those who have already donated, if you are able to make additional donations it will go to good use for John. For those yet to donate, please do so in whatever amount you can.

Before closing, there are some key individuals that deserve recognition.

·         Neighbors Jeff Annandale and his wife MA. You have dedicated all of your time to John’s needs and assisted beyond cause. This level of effort is heroic.

·         Clay the builder, your efforts in raising material donations for the bathroom remodel and your time to arrange this project seeing it thorough to completion. Immense personal effort.

·         John’s supportive family either here in Houston or in the UK. Children Kim, Ruth, Darren, Paul, Gemma, Sister Marie all the grandchildren for their time to hold up communications for John, through FaceTime, texts, emails.

·         John wanted a special thank you to go out to his former Royal Navy buddies. The constant calls and words of love and encouragement is a driving force for John daily.

Thank you one and all for your help to date and time to read this update.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $500 
    • 3 yrs
  • Leo J Corley
    • $500 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $1,000 
    • 3 yrs
  • Lisa Beam
    • $400 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Nigel Saunders
Organizer
Fulshear, TX
Erik Olson
Beneficiary

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