MooreFriends

Moore's Miracle House

FROM SALT LAKE CITY – DENNIS AND VICKI SEND THEIR DEEPEST THANKS AND GRATITUDE AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR HARD WORK TOWARD RECOVERY!

A huge thank you to all of you for the commitment and support you have shown to Dennis and Vicki since June 4th. They appreciate each and every little act and word of kindness during this difficult time.
So many of you have been waiting patiently to find out when, where and how you can help Dennis and Vicki. The Friends of Dennis Moore committee has been working hard on determining the greatest area of need and also how to fill that need. After several talks with Vicki, we have discovered that what Dennis needs immediately is a home to come back to – his home.

“Moore” friends support founder of Desoto Sunrise

Judith Marrs
Southaven Press
jmarrs@myspeedworks.com
Dennis Moore, founder of Desoto Sunrise Homes, is being helped by a new specialized hospital and also by many people that care.
Dennis Moore, executive director for Parents Unite for Kids (PLUK) in Billings, Mont. and founder of DeSoto Sunrise Homes in Desoto County, proudly carried the relay Olympic Torch for Billings during the 2002 Winter Olympics using two strong arms and legs.
But because of a 15-foot fall on his birthday, June 5, those strong limbs he used while carrying the torch are not working although friends and family believe they will be. Moore is rehabilitating in Salt Lake City, Utah at a hospital that specializes in head and neck injuries.

Moore at Utah rehab center

from the Memphis Commercial Appeal http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/desoto/article/0,1426,MCA_451_4853989,00.html
By William C. Bayne -  July 19, 2006
Dennis Moore, the founding director of DeSoto Sunrise Homes, was transferred Tuesday to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Moore, 55, is recovering from a broken neck he received in a fall at his home in Billings, Mont., on June 4. "We got here in less than two hours and Dennis appears to be in good shape," his wife, Vicki, said by telephone. She said an air ambulance was used to transport Moore from the Billings Clinic to Salt Lake City. Originally, plans had been made to transfer Dennis to a rehab center in Denver, but that failed to work out. Instead, he went to the spinal cord rehabilitation facility at the Utah Medical Center. "We expect he's going to be here through early September," Vicki Moore said. "It's based on progress, but overall, it's a program of about six weeks or so. "Dennis is eager to get on with it. He's talking to everyone, but he remains paralyzed." She said her husband was limited to a "shoulder shrug" for mobility. "It's about the same as it was. He can't wait to get started," she said. The Moores have some family friends in Salt Lake City and Vicki Moore said she will stay with them while he goes through the rehabilitation process. "It's going to work out well for us, I believe," she said. Moore underwent a six-hour surgery in Billings June 19 in which two vertebrae were fused and a metal plate was placed in his head. Earlier, he had a tracheotomy to allow him to breathe easier. Meanwhile, two bank accounts have been established to aid the Moores with their mounting medical expenses. An account was established at U.S. Bank in Billings and another was set up at First Security Bank in Olive Branch. Both banks are accepting donations for Dennis and Vicki Moore. Dennis Moore was executive director of Parents, Let's Unite for Kids in Billings. The organization set up an e-mail site for him. It's dennis@pluk.org.  Moore moved to Billings to head the organization after leaving DeSoto Sunrise, a nonprofit agency that provides services to at-risk children and adolescents, in 2000.
-- William C. Bayne: (662) 996-1408

Dennis Moore transported to University of Utah Medical Center

Dear Friends of PLUK,

We wanted to share today's press release with everyone before it begins to appear in the news. Dennis and Vicki did not want to announce their trip to Salt Lake City until today.  Their plans to travel to the Craig Rehab Center in Denver did not work out, but they are very pleased to be at the University of Utah Medical Center.

Here is the contents of today's press release to the media:

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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Updated: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 10:00 a.m.
CONTACT: Roger Holt, PLUK Co-Director, (406) 255-0540 or rholt@pluk.org 
Dennis Moore, Executive Director of Parents, Let's Unite for Kids is arriving at the University Of Utah Medical Center today. You may recall Moore was severely injured on Sunday, June 4, after falling off the roof of his Billings home while cutting tree branches. Moore, 55, suffered a spinal cord injury in the fall and is paralyzed and dependent on a ventilator to breathe. He's spent the past six weeks at the Billings Clinic and was transported to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. There he will undergo a five to six week physical, speech and occupational therapy regime. Billings Clinic doctors say it will be 18 months before the full extent of Moore's permanent injuries are known. Moore is able to talk and has remained active in PLUK's day to day operations.
This Friday night at the Billings Outlaws play-off game, volunteers from the "Friends of Dennis Moore" will be selling the 50/50 tickets. The proceeds will go to help the Moore family with medical expenses. That game is in Billings at MetraPark arena at 7:00 p.m.
PLUK is a statewide, non-profit organization that offers resources to parents who have children with special needs.
Cards can be sent to: Dennis Moore c/o University Hospital Rehabilitation, University of Utah Medical Ctr., 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132
Donations to the family may be made out to "Dennis Moore" and sent to: PO Box 1135, Billings MT 59103.

 

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We will continue to post updates at http://www.pluk.org/dennis.html. Email messages may also be sent to Dennis & Vicki at dennis@pluk.org.

The "Friends of Dennis Moore" group has set up the accounts to receive donations for Dennis and his family and will soon have a web site to accept donations online and take over the duties of posting updates.

All of us here at PLUK wish to thank all of you for your calls, cards, messages, and words of comfort and support these last six weeks. Our greatest asset are people who support the organization and our mission of helping children and families. PLUK remains healthy and thriving thanks to you.

Sincerely,

Roger Holt
PLUK Co-Director

 

Dennis and Vicki will soon be heading to the Craig Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Center in Denver

Dennis and Vicki will soon be heading to the Craig Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Center in Denver (see http://www.craighospital.org). Everyone is invited to stop by the Billings Clinic ICU South for cake and punch on Friday, July 14 from noon to 3PM to wish them well. Also, Vicki's 50th birthday is next week so we will be celebrating this too. You may also send email messages to them at dennis@pluk.org or cards and letters to:

Friends of Dennis
PO Box 1135
Billings MT 59103

Also, for everyone who has asked about donating funds to Dennis and his family, the "Friends of Dennis" committee has set up an account to accept donations (100% goes to Dennis & Vicki). Just make out your checks to "Dennis Moore" and send them to the address above. There will soon be a web site to make donations online.