Sacramento Injury Lawyer Blog

Seven year old Alexis Goggins is soft spoken and shy. One might not expect the young girl with a learning disability to be very courageous, much less a hero, but that is exactly what she is.

In Detroit, Michigan, a far cry from Sacramento, Alexis and her mother, Seliethia Parker, were taken hostage by Parker's ex-boyfriend in their home town. Calvin Tillie, the ex-boyfriend, jumped into a car containing Alexis, Parker and a friend and forced the friend to drive at gun point. The friend pulled into a gas station and, leaving the car under the premise of needing gas, called 911. Inside the car, the drama unfolded. The Associated Press reports:

...Parker pleaded with the gunman not to shoot. As he was about to open fire, Alexis cried, "Don't hurt my mother!" and jumped into her mother's arms from the back seat.

As Alexis shielded her mother, she was shot multiple times. Despite her heroic efforts, her mother was shot twice, but survived.

Now, after two months in the hospital, six surgeries, and the loss of her right eye, Alexis is recovering. She goes to physical therapy twice a week and speaks little of the shooting. Not suprisingly, Parker refers to Alexis as "her little angel". A suitable title, in my opinion.

For the full story, please click here.

In this world we are confronted with so many terrible things, but, every now and then, we glimpse the mercy of God through the actions of one of His children. Whether its someone taking the bullets intended for another, or simply listening to someone who is hurting, people become heroes everyday. In my opinion, these acts are examples of Christ's light shining in the darkness. These acts, this light, make life livable for us adults, living in the "real world". They show us that the "real world" maybe is as good as we thought it was as small children, dreaming of being grown ups.

If you or a loved one has been injured and need legal help, please do not hesitate to call me, Moseley Collins, of The Law Office of Moseley Collins, at (916) 444-4444.

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In our own home town of Sacramento, pets are being used to heal sick children. Yes, you heard me right. At Shriners Hospital for Children - Northern California, volunteers bring in pets for the children to play with or just be around. The children seem to greatly benefit from the pets. Take for example, Rachael Wilson, a patient who suffered a spinal cord injury at age 12, who says she feels like the pets give her a sense of freedom she did not have before. Another patient, 15-year old Austin Lee, has been in a wheelchair since he was hit by a truck some time back. He says that he loves having the pets visit and that they remind him of his own pets back home.

The hospital serves as a place children go after severe accidents as well as a place for ongoing treatments and surgeries. The animals take some of the tension out the ordeals the children are subject to go through.

Other studies show that pet therapy does in fact, seem to aid those who face a terminal or life-altering illness. These animals can offer a constant source of comfort, a feeling of unconditional love, and an attentional focus. For example, one study was conducted on patients who were in the intensive care unit for heart attack or angina. One year after the hospitalization, 28% of patients who did not have a pet died, compared to 6% of deaths in patients who did own a pet.

Although I wouldn’t start saying that pet therapy is a total cure for sickness, it does seem to have many benefits. If you or a loved one is suffering from a life-altering or life-threatening illness, I would say to give it a try. The comfort and joy you can find in a pet can be incredible.

Until next time…

Click here for more information on pet therapy.

Click here to see the full article on Shriner’s Hospital.

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In our Personal Injury Law Firm in Sacramento, I often find myself inundated with stories of accidents, injustices, and pain. The bright side of this work comes however, when our injured clients are able to move on with their lives into the direction of new dreams, hopes and futures.

As I was reading through the web today, I came across an article that reflected this feeling and I have decided to step aside from the car accidents and brain injuries for a moment to share with you a woman who has overcome her own personal injury.

The woman's name is Michelle Shackelford and she is from our own Sacramento area. Michelle had a career as a CHP motorcycle officer for many years, following a dream she always had held growing up. One day, however, her life as she had known it suddenly changed. The news article explained that while attending a police duty on the offramp of Madison Avenue, Michelle was hit by a reckless driver. Michelle wound up critically injured after being launched from her motorcycle and then, subsequently, hit by her own rolling bike.

Like many of our clients, Michelle had a long road ahead of her of rehabilitation and recovery. And, as if often happens, Michelle's career was cut short and was placed in a position to find a new direction for her life.

The article described Michelle's new life, now new owner of a gym in Sacramento called Fitness Together. She loves her new career and path. Michelle now uses her accident as a way to help others, taking her experiences from her many days in rehab and physical therapy to assist and advise her gym members.

I love this story because it explains a real-life account of someone conquering a seemingly devastating injury. Please know that there is always hope and life even in the gravest of circumstances.

Seek, reach and pray...

For more information on this article, please click here.

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