LAKE COUNTY ? On April 12, Easter Sunday, life forever changed for Lakeport resident Frank Moore and his family. Frank and his two sons were seriously injured in a boating accident in Florida that took the lives of five people. Frank, 52, and his son Joshua, 18, were visiting son and brother, Justin, 23, who lives in Florida. Frank and Joshua are now home in Lakeport continuing to heal from their injuries and the trauma they experienced.
Shortly after the accident, Frank spent about a month at Shand”s Trauma Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Next, he was transferred to Heartland Rehabilitation Center in Orange Park, Fla., where he was a two-month resident. Finally, when he was able to come home, it took a four-day train trip back to California. His doctors would not allow him to fly, due to injuries to his head. Doctors wanted him to spend more time in a convalescent facility, but Frank and his wife Suzen said that “home was the best medicine” he could get.
Frank continues to deal with shoulder and pelvic bone fractures. His broken ribs have healed. The impact of the collision propelled Frank many feet into the air and his subsequent crash, when he landed, caused the broken bones and head trauma. According to Frank and Suzen, the head trauma is what is going to take the longest to recuperate from. Both say that because of his head injury, he may never be able to return to work. He is continuing to receive physical and occupational therapy on a regular basis.
Frank said that mornings are tough for him. He experiences terrible arm pains upon waking up and he has to hold his hands under hot water each morning, just to get enough feeling in them to hold onto his coffee cup.
Justin and Joshua both had major injuries, but not as serious as their father”s. Joshua is still undergoing physical therapy for a neck injury. But, one of the worst wounds that he received was the loss of many of his teeth. He is now in the process of having reconstructive work completed inside his mouth. Dr. Levi Palmer is coordinating the effort, with assistance from Los Angeles dental implant specialist, Dr. Ryan Conkle.
The message that Frank and his wife Suzen want to convey is that they wish it were possible to personally thank everyone who has assisted them since the accident occurred. The Moores said that the outpouring of calls, cards, donations, meals and other forms of well-wishing and assistance has overwhelmed them. Some people have even anonymously left baskets of food on their doorstep. Suzen stated, “I am so impressed at how well-respected Frank is in this area.”
Suzen said that the Kelseyville Lumber coordinated spaghetti feed and fishing trip raffle have really helped them financially. One local musician is making a music CD and splitting the proceeds with Frank. There is a Moore Fundraising Account at Mendo-Lake Credit Union for anyone who would like to donate to help with ongoing care that both Frank and Joshua are going to need.
Frank said that he especially wants to thank Mark Borghesani, his boss at Kelseyville Lumber, as well as all of his fellow employees there. Frank has been a truck driver and crane operator for Kelseyville Lumber for the past 10 years. Prior to that, he also worked for Piedmont Lumber in Lakeport and Mendo-Mill in Clearlake, so he is well known in the area building trades industry.
Recently, Frank was finally well enough to just go hang out at the Kelseyville Lumber store with his old workmates. It was therapeutic for Frank who said, “It was wonderful to see everyone and just be there and listen to all the sounds of the store.” Frank says that the inactivity is hard for him to endure. He stated, “I was taught by my dad to work hard and be dedicated to the people I work for.” He went on to describe a work day when as a man over 50 he worked circles around a couple of young men half his age.
Frank was touched recently when Mark Borghesani called him and said he had a load of sheetrock for Frank to deliver. Both Frank and Suzen both say that they don”t know what the future will hold, but they are thankful the Moore men survived and they are humbled by the fact that there are so many people who care about them.
