Mitch Moore has been accepted to be part of a stem cell treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama, where umbilical and bone marrow stem cells from the patient’s own body are used in their recovery.

TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/ttompkins@bradenton.com Mitch Moore, paralyzed in an accident more than 10 years ago, built this playhouse in his backyard for his daughter, Haley, with his brother who has since passed away. Moore is trying to raise money to get to Panama for a medical treatment that may return some of his physical functions.

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• PHOTO GALLERY | Paralyzed man stays hopeful

“I was doing 45 or 40 (mph) when I hit the breaks and nothing happened,” said Moore, 40. “I didn’t have too much time to think.”

There was a school bus heading east on S.R. 64 and a Tropicana truck heading west.

“Not even a quarter second passed and I thought I’d drive it to pasture,” Moore said.

His truck flipped and he was ejected. His neck broke upon impact.

From that moment, Moore was paralyzed from the neck down and he has been in a wheelchair ever since.

But Moore isn’t a quitter. He held onto hope that he would walk again. And a few weeks ago, his prayers were answered.

He was accepted to be part of a stem cell treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama, where umbilical and bone marrow stem cells from the patient’s own body are used in their recovery.

Now Moore, his wife, Stephanie, and daughte,r Haley, 11, are trying to raise $50,000 to fund the monthlong trip by hosting a 5K “rock and roll” on Sept. 17 at King Family Farm, 4630 60th St. E.

“I remember Stephanie texting me saying Panama approved. I was just excited,” Moore said. The procedure could potentially give him the ability to walk or at least gain back some sensation.

Determined for her father to be able to afford the treatment, Haley has started a lemonade stand to raise money.

“I hope he gets back and starts walking again or gets something back,” Haley said, adding she and her father are close. They play basketball together -- “He throws me the ball and I shoot” -- and go on walks with their dog, Aly.

Before the crash, Moore, then 27, had what he calls a perfect life. His business was doing well and Stephanie was only a few months pregnant with Haley.

He recalls being in intensive care and wanting nothing more than to go home. But that turned out to be harder than he thought it would be once he was there.

“It reminded me of everything before the accident, and when I went back to work it was a like a mini-vacation every day,” said Moore, owner of Lighting Construction Services Inc. “It was an outlet for me. “

Throughout her pregnancy, Stephanie Moore said her husband was emotionally distraught that he wouldn’t be able to interact with Haley the way he wanted.

“He would cry,” said Stephanie. “Our world was rocked. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be and he went through a lot.”

Moore admits it took a while to accept his new reality; he said it actually took about seven years.

“Since I got past that seven-year mark, the acceptance part hit,” Moore said. “Before I had endless amounts of energy and was definitely the strongest guy and fastest worker.”

The rest is here:
Manatee man is paralyzed, but still plenty hopeful

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