Private Sub Document_ContentControlOnExit(ByVal ContentControl As ContentControl, Cancel As Boolean)
With ContentControl
  If Len(.Title) < 6 Then Exit Sub
  If Left(.Title, 6) = "Status" Then
    On Error GoTo Err_Merged
    Select Case .Range.Text
      Case "COMPLETE"
        .Range.Rows(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdGreen
      Case "Pending": .Range.Rows(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdYellow
      Case Else: .Range.Rows(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdNoHighlight
    End Select
  End If
End With
lbl_Exit:
  Exit Sub
Err_Merged:
  DealWithMergedCells ContentControl
End Sub

Sub DealWithMergedCells(oCC As ContentControl)
Dim oCellRef As Cell, oCell As Cell
  Set oCellRef = oCC.Range.Cells(1)
  Select Case oCC.Range.Text
    Case "COMPLETE"
      oCC.Range.Cells(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdGreen
    Case "Pending"
       oCC.Range.Cells(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdYellow
    Case Else
       oCC.Range.Cells(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = wdNoHighlight
  End Select
  For Each oCell In oCC.Range.Tables(1).Range.Cells
    If oCell.RowIndex = oCellRef.RowIndex Then
      oCell.Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex = oCC.Range.Cells(1).Shading.BackgroundPatternColorIndex
    End If
  Next
End Sub