At North, Moore is better
By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor
Paul Moore’s commute to North Catholic High School every morning can be quite
trying.
But it’s nothing compared to his journey to making the Falcons’ soccer club.
Moore, a fullback for North, lives in Plymouth Meeting, and every morning he
has to travel from the suburbs to Erie and Torresdale avenues to attend
classes at his high school. And the ride he gets from his father, Paul Sr.,
who works as a budget analyst at the Navy Depot in the Lawndale section of the
city, can take the better part of an hour.
But that hasn’t been Moore’s biggest problem since he registered for classes
at North.
Moore, a senior, has had quite a bit of bad luck since his sophomore soccer
season. That year, his campaign ended early because he suffered a knee injury
that required season-ending arthroscopic surgery.
The injury kept him off the field until his junior year, but then something
even more serious happened.
It was during summer camp a year ago when Moore felt a little dizzy after a
workout. He went home and told his parents that he felt ill. Figuring it was
just the flu, his mother Geri gave him some medication and sent him to bed.
Later that night, he woke up and the symptoms were even worse, so they took
him to the hospital.
"My blood pressure was through the roof when I got there," Moore said. "I was
scared. They found out that the tube that connects my kidney to the bladder
was kinked.
"They said that if they unclogged it, that I would feel better and then it
would save my kidney. They put a stint in there to clear it out and I went
home."
Moore returned to the Falcons’ squad, but the injury caused him to feel weak,
so he spent the bulk of the season on the junior varsity squad.
His game improved, and Moore also went on to play for the Falcons’ basketball
and lacrosse teams. But shortly before the school year ended, he encountered
another setback.
"I felt the same way again, and I was really scared," Moore said.
"Essentially, the kidney shut down, it didn’t want to work any more. I was
more scared this time because I figured it would be more of the same. They
fixed it before and they would fix it again, but I would be weak and getting
treatment for the rest of my life."
While spending time in Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, Moore, after
consolation from his parents and his doctors, decided that the best decision
would be to remove the kidney. So, on June 14, he had surgery to take out the
damaged organ.
"My other kidney was doing eighty-five percent of the work anyway, and you can
live on one kidney," Moore said. "It was scary, but it was a relief because I
knew I’d be better and stronger. The surgery was tough because I had to sit in
bed for a few weeks. It was just a lot of time watching television and eating
candy. But in the long run, it was a great decision."
After taking the month to recover, Moore started some light workouts on his
own. Now, he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to anchor the Falcons’ defense.
"I’m so excited," Moore said. "I guess I was just unlucky. The knee injury,
then the kidney thing — I just couldn’t play. My sophomore year was ruined and
I played last year, but I think I could have done better. This year, I’m all
about staying healthy and helping us make the playoffs and win the
championship.
"We have a great team, and the coaches here were real supportive," Moore
continued. "I had friends telling me that if I needed a kidney, they would
give it to me. Coach (Jerry) Brindisi came down all the time to the hospital.
It was a tough time, but it helped that I had so many great people here at
North and in my family."
Moore’s mother and father are certainly proud of their son’s perseverance.
"He’s always a happy kid, but he’s happiest when he’s playing soccer," Moore’s
mother said. "It broke my heart when he was in the hospital. But he never
complained, and I know he was scared, but he always had a way of making me
feel better.
"And I can’t say enough about coach Jerry (Brindisi)," she continued. "He
actually sat with my husband and me when the surgery was going on. And when
Paul was down, Jerry would come in and talk soccer with him, and you could see
him perk up. That meant so much to him."
"I just want to see him have fun," said Paul Sr., who graduated from North in
1981. "He loves soccer, so I just want to see him have fun.
"I was scared like everyone else. It’s horrible when you see your kid
suffering like that. But he worked hard to get back in shape and everything
looks fine now."
Now, Paul Jr. is just hoping for a successful senior campaign, both in the
classroom and on the field.
"This is it for me at North, and we want a championship," the fullback said.
"If we work hard, we have a good team. I love soccer and lacrosse, but I can’t
play lacrosse anymore because I have to avoid contact sports. I’ll miss it,
but soccer is my passion, so I’m excited about this year. I just got to stay
healthy."
Though his immediate is future is clear, Morris is looking farther down the
road. He hopes to earn a scholarship for his soccer skills, but if that
doesn’t work out, he definitely sees himself in college next year.
And while he is unsure of his major, he is almost certain he won’t follow in
his father’s footsteps.
Paul Sr. is the lead singer of the local band Blackthorn. And even though the
younger Moore enjoys singing and watching his father’s shows, he would rather
perform on the pitch than on the stage.
"I can’t carry a tune at all," the younger Moore said with a smile. "The shows
are awesome. I love Irish weekend and all, but that’s not my thing. Everyone
always says that, as a singer, I make a pretty good soccer player." oo
Contact sports editor Joe Mason at 215-354-3035 or
jmason@phillynews.com