Islanders roll for neighbor in time of need

Brian Moore grew up in Oak Harbor and graduated from OHHS in 2007. He was accepted into Washington State University in Pullman where he chose to study economics. On Aug. 7, Moore was celebrating his 21st birthday when he fell about 10 feet and injured his spinal cord. He lost control of his legs and arms and spent nearly two months at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Through physical therapy sessions and work with hospital staff, Moore was able to regain movement in his arms and hands and learned to navigate a wheelchair. In order to be released from the hospital, Moore’s home in Oak Harbor had to be wheelchair accessible, but since his family was busy serving as a support system in Seattle, they needed help with the project.

October 21, 2010 5:01 pm
Ron Wallin
Ron Wallin

It’s always the most incredible stories that are the most difficult to write. When trying to capture emotions like hope and love in an article, a writer must fight to keep go-to cliches from creeping into sentences and turning extraordinary tales into nothing more than the familiar words of inspirational posters hanging in classrooms and offices getting overlooked by passersby.

A person who has lived on Whidbey for a while may be immune to the generosity of its inhabitants. But kind hearts and hospitality aren’t in abundance everywhere. Island residents may be geographically isolated, but even in their darkest hours, they never have to feel alone.

Brian Moore grew up in Oak Harbor and graduated from OHHS in 2007. He was accepted into Washington State University in Pullman where he chose to study economics. On Aug. 7, Moore was celebrating his 21st birthday when he fell about 10 feet and injured his spinal cord. He lost control of his legs and arms and spent nearly two months at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Through physical therapy sessions and work with hospital staff, Moore was able to regain movement in his arms and hands and learned to navigate a wheelchair. In order to be released from the hospital, Moore’s home in Oak Harbor had to be wheelchair accessible, but since his family was busy serving as a support system in Seattle, they needed help with the project.

Ron Wallin of P & L General Contractors Inc. heard about the Moore family from one of his coworkers who was a family friend, and he didn’t waste any time getting a construction project off the ground.

“As soon as Ron heard, he jumped right in,” Margaret Moore, Brian’s mother, said. “Ron was saying that when Brian got home from the hospital he wanted him to know the whole community was behind him.”

With the help of Moore family friends Greg Goebel and Chris Burgess, Wallin was able to get a building permit fast tracked through the city and completely renovated Brian’s home. What was once a garage bay now resembles a polished studio apartment complete with a spacious bathroom, a specialized shower that fits Brian’s wheelchair and a ramp. Wallin said that friends and strangers alike pitched in with the remodel which was completed in about 30 days. Wallin was able to get materials donated or at-cost for most of the project. Additionally, with help from Melissa McCumber of Whidbey Island Bank, the Rotary Club of North Whidbey Island Sunrise, the Kiwanis Club of Oak Harbor, the Lions Club and others, Wallin organized a number of fundraisers on the island to help pay for the cost of the remodel.

“We wanted to make it a bright and cheery place,” Wallin said, “to have a young man see that he’s not alone.”

The community groups held a fundraiser at Applebee’s restaurant on Monday and put on a lunchbox fundraiser earlier this year with help from Pita Pit, Saar’s Market and Whidbey Island Bank. According to McCumber, the volunteers have raised about $7,000 so far, but they still have plenty of work to do. Though bills for the remodel project are still coming in; right now the cost is at about $15,000. The group plans to continue raising money until the entire cost is covered and hopes to have enough money to buy special exercise equipment for Brian Moore to have at home.

“It could have been any one of us that this happened to,” McCumber said.

Margaret Moore said her family is overwhelmed and touched by the support from neighbors. Though the family is still adapting to all of the changes, she said the remodel has made the transition from Harborview much smoother.

As for Brian Moore, he’s staying positive and is working hard to gain back his strength. He will attend physical therapy sessions in Seattle twice a week for the next couple of months and plans to start taking online classes through WSU in January. There’s a 95 percent chance that Moore will never fully recover and his doctor’s prognosis was that he’ll never walk again, but he knows better.

“I’m choosing not to believe that,” he said.

Whidbey Islanders are too.

Upcoming event: Silent auction and lasagna dinner at Angelo’s Cafe on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The event will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Bayshore Branch of Whidbey Island Bank.

Moore Supporters: Ron Wallin, P & L Contractors Inc., Melissa McCumber, Whidbey Island Bank, Greg & Lynn Goebel, Chris Burgess, Orin Kolaitis, City of Oak Harbor, Rotary Club of North Whidbey Island Sunrise, Kiwanis Club of Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor Lions Club, Red Head Construction, Frontier Building Supply, Harbor Plumbing Co. Inc., AA Electric, Floors Plus Carpet One Floor & Home, Island Paint & Glass Co., Trico Heating Inc., Miracle Mudder, Brushworks NW Inc., Pita Pit, Saar’s Market, Applebee’s, Angelo’s Cafe