UPDATE ON 4/1/2026:

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and kindness in supporting

Michael’s recovery. Every donation, every message, and every prayer means more than

words can express.

On February 12, Michael heard a disturbance outside his Pasadena home in the early

morning hours. He discovered thieves stealing a catalytic converter from a neighbor’s

vehicle and — being who he is — stepped in to help. The thieves struck him with their

getaway vehicle and fled, leaving Michael in the street with catastrophic injuries. A

neighbor called 911 but had to leave for the airport. Then Michael’s devoted dog Conan

came outside, found Michael in the street, and stayed with him until Michael somehow got

to his feet and made it back inside his house. The suspects remain at large.

Michael suffered a severe traumatic brain injury requiring emergency brain surgery,

multiple skull fractures, and broken bones in both legs. He is now at a rehabilitation

hospital receiving four hours of intensive therapy every day to rebuild the skills the injury

took from him. He is beginning to stand on his broken legs and relearning to speak in full

sentences.

Michael’s spirit is remarkable. He puts 200% into every session and makes progress every

week. His doctors say the first three to six months after a brain injury is the critical window

when the brain has its greatest ability to heal. Every day of therapy right now determines

how much function Michael will regain for the rest of his life.

The difficult truth: Michael’s recovery will require months of specialized rehabilitation

beyond his current facility. Depending on what facility Michael goes to next, insurance

may not cover it. Any gap or reduction in therapy during this critical window could

permanently limit his recovery.

Michael is 38 years old, a hardworking Union Pacific Railroad employee who was injured

because he tried to protect his neighbor’s property. If you can contribute, any amount

makes a difference. If you’re not in a position to give, please share Michael’s story — the

more people who see it, the greater the chance the individuals who did this are identified

and held accountable.

To know Michael Moreno is to know a young man with a full heart who would help

anyone without hesitation. Now he needs that same generosity returned.

With deepest gratitude,

Cindy Barrett

Michael’s Mother