Teen faces grueling recovery

Dillon Moore was supposed to begin life as a freshman at Flathead High School on Wednesday.

Instead, he’s laying in the Intensive Care Unit at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane recovering from a pellet-gun wound that has left him with serious brain damage.

Moore, 14, was shot through the right eye Aug. 12 while target-shooting with his 12-year-old brother in Kalispell. More than two weeks later, he’s still unable to use his vocal cords, can barely move the right side of his body and is slipping in and out of consciousness.

The pellet traveled through the eye socket and into his brain, according to family members. The front, center, right and left lobes were damaged.

His mother, Brandi Moore, said Thursday that the pellet remains lodged in his head and doctors have determined that it would be more dangerous to remove it than to let it stay.

Brandi and Dillon’s father, James Moore, have remained by his side through the ordeal. Dillon is scheduled to go into surgery Monday when doctors will attempt to move a feeding tube to his stomach.

Family members are not certain to what extent the damage will heal.  While his condition has stabilized, they expect it will be a long road to recovery.

“There always is hope and there are always miracles,” said his grandmother Elaine Moore. “But full recovery I would have to say is slight.”

Brandi said initial medical opinions leaned toward the possibility of permanent immobility. His condition has improved, but Brandi said it is likely that he will require the use of a cane when he finally is released from the hospital.

“The doctors are just hoping he gets 50 percent back on his right side,” she said.

In the meantime, the Moore family is watching medical bills pile up.

The flight from Kalispell Regional Medical Center to Spokane will cost an estimated $11,000. Brandi said the first week in intensive care alone was billed at $135,000.

Those sums don’t include the cost of staying in a nearby hotel while providing for Dillon’s three younger brothers in Kalispell. Family members have helped ease the burden, visiting Dillon in the hospital and helping out with the other children.

Friends of the family have opened an account at Wells Fargo Bank to help with the still-climbing costs of treating the boy. Those interested in helping the family can make a donation by contributing to the Dillon Moore account.

Brandi describes Dillon as a fun-loving child who had planned on playing football this year after a long hiatus from the sport. He also enjoys baseball, preferring to play second base. He finished eighth grade at Trinity Lutheran School earlier this year.

She said she is trying to maintain a calm demeanor even as her son struggles to recover.

“I have to,” she said. “What good does it do to break down? Then I can’t help him.”

On Thursday, Dillon was propped up by medical staff and was asked to raise two fingers. After a while, he did so. It’s another sign that he’s responding to therapy and treatment. But a lot more of both will be needed in the days and months ahead, she said.

“I’m just lucky I have this road to take with him,” Brandi said. “It might be a long road and it’s going to be hard road. But I’m lucky.”

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com