Striving for independence as a quadriplegic has been difficult for a former Foothills Falcon who won back-to-back national university football titles.

Jeff Moodie, a former Foothills Falcons football player, and his son Madden go for a ride on their wheels. One year ago Jeff was paralyzed when he slammed into shallow ground while body boarding in Mexico. A family friend is asking for donations to help Jeff and his wife with a downpayment on a wheelchair accessible home.

Jeff Moodie, who graduated from the Foothills Composite High School in 1995, broke his neck body boarding one year ago. He has come a long way since then, re-establishing his life, learning how to deal with being stuck in a wheelchair and asking for help with everything.

However, he still has a long way to go.

Last March Moodie slammed head-first into a sandbank in Mexico while body boarding. He instantly broke his neck, suffered a paralyzing spinal injury and lay in the water drowning.

“This is very important, people need to know that body boarding in the ocean is very dangerous,” Moodie said. “It’s very common to break your neck and have spinal cord injuries. When I was in San Diego to get surgery the doctors said after car accidents it’s the number two reason for spinal cord injuries.”

Luckily, his wife Tiffany spotted his lifeless body in the water, she pulled him out of the water and he was resuscitated.

“I hate hearing her side of the story,” said Moodie. “It was really bad. Mine was simple. I just played dead for a little while. But she had to go through it all.”

It has been a long road to recovery for Moodie who was simply a winner wherever he played winning a provincial high school title with the Falcons football team in 1994. The following spring he played for Team Alberta and won the national championship for age 19 and under. He then went on to university and helped the St. Mary’s Huskies win back-to-back Vanier Cups in 2001 and 2002.

Perhaps through the work ethic he learned on the gridiron Moodie is determined to work at his recovery.

Through surgery, physiotherapy and time, Moodie is now able to move his arms, shoulders, head and he has limited use of his hands.

“I go to the gym all the time, to physiotherapy, and work out hard to try and get better – become more functional in day-to-day life so people don’t have to help me with everything,” Moodie said.

He is striving for more independence so Tiffany can take some time for herself and hopefully go back to work one day.

“If my wife could take off for a couple of days, if I could take care of myself, that would be great.”

One way Moodie could become a little more independent is if he, his wife Tiffany and their three-year-old son Madden could move into a home designed to be accessible for someone in a wheelchair.

That’s where Okotoks resident Sue Hill has realized she can help. Hill has launched a fundraising initiative to try to raise $20,000 for the couple to put towards building a home that could accommodate his needs.

A home designed for Moodie would be a giant leap forward in his quest for independence.

“When I’m not here Jeff can’t even get a glass of water for himself, or go to the fridge and get something to eat. If he’s on the couch, he’s stuck there until I can move him,” said Tiffany.

Tiffany had to quit her job to take care of Moodie and their son, as a result they are only living on monthly insurance payments of 60 per cent of Moodie’s former salary, which covers the bills but doesn’t leave anything left to save for a down payment on a home.

“It’s a huge source of stress to not know how we can make our life better,” said Tiffany. “This won’t be over in a year from now. We thought so at first, but we’re more realistic as to what our future is.”

Hill’s heart goes out to the couple and their struggle because she knows first-hand the hardship the couple is facing. Her daughter-in-law broke her neck and became a quadriplegic three years ago. The community of Alpine, Utah, where her son and daughter-in-law live, raised $45,000 to help them with things they needed. Hill said she wants to do the same for Jeff and Tiffany.

“When a tragedy like this happens a lot of people want to do something, but they don’t know what to do,” said Hill.

Making a financial donation is something people can do to make a big difference in Jeff and Tiffany’s lives.

“A lot of people don’t understand all the expenses involved with this situation,” said Hill. “You need lifting equipment – Jeff’s wife is a tiny, cute little thing and she has to lift him, get him into bed every night. And he’s not a small guy. He was a football player.”

Hill said she is not planning a major fundraiser, but rather she is hoping the community will step up to help a fallen son who is in need.

“I’m too old to plan a big event but I know that Okotoks is a very generous community that looks after their own,” she said.

Hill has set up an account at the Royal Bank in Okotoks to collect donations, for the Jeff Moodie Foundation. Donations can be made at the bank, or by mailing a cheque to Box 430, Station Main Okotoks, AB, T1S 1A6.

Sue Hill will also come and pick up donations, call her at 403-938-1424.

tneely@okotoks.greatwest.ca

6 Click Here to 'Like' this post

 Email This Post  Print This Post