“You and @naztokio recording me at @dallasaustins studio in atlanta. First time I had ever really recording a record in the studio. You made it feel easy and safe. Everything I saw you do. Was built in passion. I loved connecting again with you.”
Dallas Austin also shared an Instagram post with a brief caption: “All i can say is that we LOVE YOU DEARLY Mikey .”
Photographer Brian Bowen Smith also made a post about Mora, calling him “the sweetest guy” he had ever met.
“Saddened to hear the news about our dear friend Mike passing away last night. Working with you was such a pleasure. I loved all of your questions and your passion for your family and photography. Reminds me of me. Sending love to his wife and family,” Smith wrote. “Mike had been sick for a minute but he loved being on set. Today we will be thinking of you at every frame. Great example of why you need to live every day to the fullest. And be great full [sic] for every day your [sic] here.”
In September 2021, Mora began chronicling his stomach cancer progression, from experiencing “the worst pain” in his stomach and loss of appetite to lymph nodes spreading in his back.
“I thought the whole time that I just had an ulcer. With no idea what was about to come my way,” Mora explained. “Here I was, in a hospital bed, during the middle of the pandemic. All alone.”
After undergoing an endoscopic biopsy, Mora was diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma, or stomach cancer stage four. Mora shared his hopes of making a full recovery.