USEFUL LINKS

As someone covering stories, I referred to him  as "former Cobb County District 3 commission candidate Stephen Moon."  After the first reference, just Moon.

Now as a person looking at a Northeast Cobb community member, he is simply Stephen. Grasping  the uncertainty, pain and anguish he and his family members must be living with since Nov. 22, 2010, is beyond my abilities.

As many in this community know, Stephen and his wife, Victoria, have three children. 7-year-old Max attends Blackwell Elementary School.  Sam, 4, is in pre-school at St. Andrews Methodist Church on Canton Road. Rosie is 2 with special needs. A loved Northeast Cobb community family in every way. An enjoyable family.

Victoria Moon holds daughter Rose, while son Max keeps a playful grip on brother Sam's head. The Moon's life has changed dramatically since this photo was taken.

But on that Nov. 22 date, it all changed for the Moons when Victoria went to her doctor for a simple physical and came away from it with a skull fracture after fainting in the bathroom. With the fracture came massive internal bleeding in the brain and a long-term coma.

And the fight of her life; the fight of a family's life.

While Victoria is no longer considered in a coma, her condition is listed as "minimally conscious."  Her husband said doctors here are not optimistic about her condition improving. With that, Stephen decided to move his wife to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), a move, he said, that brings some hope to the situation.

"The opinions of the doctors here have not been hopeful," said Moon, a graduate of Sprayberry High School. "We're hoping this trip will help bring a spark of life to the whole situation. We just need some hopeful news."

Moon's hopes are not without basis. Since 1991, U.S. News and World Report has ranked RIC as the number one rehabilitation hospital in America. While the move to RIC gives Moon and all family and friends reason for hope, it also provides this community a chance to assist one of its own as Victoria's insurance has denied coverage for rehabilitation at RIC.

Let's make that clear. The insurance coverage has been denied, which, in this case, is a denial of a chance for life. Victoria is 41-years-old.

Stephen said he has been blessed to have so many help in this situation, including the Beck Group, a commercial engineering company where Stephen is employed. Since the accident, the company has told Stephen to "take care of things at home." Moon also points to Piedmont Church and the Rev. Ike Reighard there as being instrumental in helping. He also said there are countless others to thank.

A plane carrying Victoria and Stephen to Chicago left Cobb County Airport /McCollum Field at 11 a.m. Jan. 13, but the cost of transporting Victoria round trip to Chicago, accommodations for Stephen and the stay at RIC add up to $63,000. The immediate family has raised $30,000 and an assistance fund has helped with another $10,000, leaving the family $23,000 short of paying for the best hope it has.

Perhaps its final hope.

Picture someone you met once by chance in the same condition as Victoria. Picture that same person as someone you have been good friends with in your life. Picture it's your best friend.

Now imagine what you would feel like if that person was your wife or husband.

To help the Moon family, go to http://hhmin.org/make_donation.php. Select: "Donate to Helping Hands Ministries Approved Projects." Under Project Category, Select: "Medical Projects," then under Project, Select: "Moon Family." Enter your information to give on-line via credit card. You may donate stock or mutual funds.

If giving by check, please mail your check to: Helping Hands Ministries P.O. Box 337 Tallulah Falls, GA 30573. Please be sure to note the "Moon Family Medical Project" on the check or on an enclosed note.

To follow Victoria's progress, please go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamoon.