Victoria Moon: Courage and Recovery

Victoria Moon fainted, fell and hit her head on the floor after a blood draw at her doctor's office in November. Her skull fractured. She went into a coma but recovered and spent one month of rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and four months of rehabiliation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Northeast Cobb Patch followed up with the Moon family recently. Since June 21, Victoria has lived in their Northeast Cobb home.

Although her walking is slightly stronger, her husband, architect Stephen Moon, said the recovery process has been difficult. “It's like being a single dad but still married,” he said. “I went from full-time architect and co-parent with my wife to full-time caregiver and the only parent to my kids—at least until Victoria improves. I have kept the kids busy with school and church activities and am coaching my son's baseball team. Keeping a routine has helped us a lot.”

Moon speaks to business and faith-based audiences about his family's experience and coping, which he says helps. He also created a website called www.my828.org. The website name is based on the Book of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

According to the website, Moon has chosen this verse as his guide and comfort. “If I had to pick two words in Romans 8 to remind us about, they are 1) suffering and 2) good. Life is full of suffering,” Moon wrote.

Moon believes that writing is good therapy. “Writing is a good tool for us to use while going through a crisis such as this one,” he said. Moon said a lot of people are visiting the website. “The website is there to help people and really share stories of suffering,” he said.

“My828.org has been a great way to communicate the true nature of our story and also to help others,” Moon said.  

As the first anniversary of his wife’s injury approaches, Moon still embraces his faith. “My faith has not changed, but certainly we encounter doubt and disappointment with God when you go through something like this, but it does not change your overall faith.”

Victoria, a stay-at-home mother, had been raising the couple's three children—Max, 7, Sam, 4 and Rosie, 2—when the injury happened. She is not eligible for Social Security until age 62. The family struggles with the cost of child care and long-term care for Victoria. Moon encourages people who have a stay-at-home spouse to think about getting long-term care and disability insurance.

Moon said it also makes things easier when you attend a supportive church and have a strong, healthy marriage.

To follow the Moon family's progress or make a donation, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/victoriamoon/journal.