Michael Moore’s Medical Journey
As of April 2, 2025
During Memorial Day weekend 2024, recently retired Howell Township Police Officer, Corporal Michael Moore suffered a rare medical emergency. Mike developed a traumatic hemorrhage due to a tear in his esophagus that also ruptured an artery.
Mike was initially treated at Centra State Medical Center in Freehold Township, where life-saving procedures were performed to stabilize the bleeding in Centra State’s Endoscopy and Catheterization Labs. Additionally, he received massive blood transfusions and fluids to address the volume that he had lost. Mike entered Multiple Organ Failure, which required further life-saving interventions to preserve his lungs, kidneys, and other body systems. Mike was placed on a ventilator to support his lungs, as well as continuous dialysis at Centra State to support his kidneys and balance the fluids in his body systems.
The Penn Medicine Lung Rescue Team from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia came to Centra State Medical Center, where they placed him on Veno-Veno Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV ECMO). VV-ECMO is a life-saving medical intervention, for patients experiencing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), that performs the work of the lungs that is necessary to oxygenate the patient’s blood, and thus allows the lungs to rest and recover. Once on VV-ECMO, Mike was transported to Penn Medicine’s Heart & Vascular Intensive Care Unit (HV-ICU) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, by the PENNSTAR FLIGHT TEAM.
While at Penn Presbyterian, Mike required numerous additional procedures to support his healing. At Penn Presbyterian, Mike continued to be in a medically-induced coma while supported by a ventilator, VV-ECMO to oxygenate his blood, continuous dialysis, and ongoing transfusions. As his body recovered from the traumatic blood loss, Mike faced additional challenges including acute inflammation of the gall bladder, as well as damage to the skin tissue of his hands and feet that occurred during his massive blood loss. In all, Mike was hospitalized for 48 days, before being transferred to Penn Medicine Princeton’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit.
During his time at Penn Medicine Princeton’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit, Mike worked hard to restrengthen his muscles, which had severely atrophied due to his prolonged illness. With the support of the Physical and Occupational Therapists, Mike regained the strength to stand, walk, and perform daily functions. After 18 days, Mike was discharged to homebound physical and occupational therapy. By September, he was transferred to outpatient Physical Therapy with Atlantic Physical Therapy in Freehold, where he spent 12 more weeks reconditioning his muscles and regaining flexibility.
As of April 1st, Mike’s progress continues to please his doctors, as well as his family and friends. He was nicknamed “Miracle Mike” by one of his skilled doctors, a name he has carried with him throughout his recovery. He continues to have follow-up exams with various specialists, including with plastic surgeons at Penn Medicine to continue treatment for his hands and feet, as well as with local specialists who also closely monitor his progress. His recovery has been the result of many miracles, each of which required expert specialists to be in the right place at the perfect time.
Mike and his family are grateful to the doctors, nurses, physician assistants, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, and many interventional specialists and professionals who played a role in Mike’s survival and recovery. Among the many skill individuals who have contributed to Mike’s survival and recovery, special thanks are given to:
The Medical Teams, Specialists, Nurses and Staff at Centra State Medical Center, including:
· Dr. Allen Nau, DO & the entire Emergency Room Team
· Dr Colin Brown, Middlesex-Monmouth Gastroenterology
· Dr. Michael D’Angelo, Interventional Radiology
· Dr. Igor Brichkov, Thoracic Surgery
· Dr Rajagopalan Rengan, Pulmonology/Critical Care
· Dr. Robert Kayser & Dr. Peter Hynes, Cardiology
· Anesthesiology Specialists & Nursing Teams in the Endoscopy and Catheterization Labs
· Suresh Pandathara, APN & the CCU Nursing Team
The Medical Teams, Specialists, Nurses, and Staff at Penn Medicine, including:
· PENN STAR Flight Team
· Dr. Asad Ali Usman & Penn Medicine’s Lung Rescue Team
· Dr. Neilanjan Nandi & Dr. Rachel Hirschorn, Gastroenterology
· Dr. Sean Harbison & Dr. Sarah Landau, General Surgery Team
· Dr. William Brownell & Rita-Ann Falconio (DPM), Podiatry, Plastic Surgery Team
· Dr. Ines C. Lin, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
· Interventional Radiology Team at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
· Medical/Nursing/Specialty Team in the Heart & Vascular Intensive Care Unit
· Medical/Nursing/Specialty in the Medical Intensive Care Unit
· Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Teams in Philadelphia & Princeton
During his law enforcement career, Michael Moore served as a police officer in Howell Township for 25 years, retiring in 2024 as a Corporal. In addition, Mike is a life member of the Farmingdale-Howell First Aid Squad where he rose to the ranks of Captain and President of that organization. Mike began his law enforcement career as a detention officer for Monmouth County and a Special Police Officer for the Boro of Belmar. Mike has dedicated his life to the service of his community. He is a dedicated father and husband. He and his family are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and members of their extended police and emergency services community.
-Jacqueline Moore