Once upon a time in the country of the United States of America was born a baby girl. From her beginning–and most likely from the beginnings of her ancestors before that–she was assailed by severe challenges. It is likely her mother did not have adequate prenatal care, or again, maybe it was just a cerebral accident. At any rate, while this child was yet an infant in arms, she suffered a massive stroke. It affected her vision and it affected her brain function.
Once upon a time, Alexis Goggins entered this world, and, although it was not evident at first, she was born with a heart condition. There probably were previous symptoms of her heart situation, but last Saturday, Alexis, now a first-grader in a Special Ed Class in Detroit, Michigan had her heart form firmly diagnosed. Her heart condition is now clearly stamped courageous and extraordinarily heroic. That affected heart caused her to leap between her mother and a would-be killer and to take into her own tiny body six bullets that were intended to wipe out her mother.
This family picture of Alexis and her mother is from the Detroit News.
Bandage covered, she lies now in stable condition at Children’s Hospital in Detroit. She is recovering from gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm.
Once upon a time was born a darling, precious child. Her name is Alexis Goggins.
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Shirley Buxton 
16 replies on “Once Upon a Time Was Alexis”
Welcome to my blog, Angela, and thanks for the confirming words. Hope you’re here often.
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FemAnon // December 6, 2007 at 9:28 am
Shannon, please. Inadequate prenatal care is a problem for many mothers who are at lower income levels or who have financial troubles, which judging from the article this mother obviously is. Acknowledging a difficulty this woman may have faced is not ‘racist’.
Also, your insistance that black people will all react in the same way frankly comes across as a bit racist in itself, and I can’t help but wonder if you are representing the situations you were in truthfully.
just because she choose a looser means she has financial problems? there are rich folks out there that choose bad guys too!!!
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[…] 20, 2008 · No Comments In the early part of last December she threw herself across her mother to shield her from the shooter, and in the process, Alexis Goggins was herself shot six times. She […]
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I don’t like to call people names, so I won’t, but Shannon’s comments have the only traces of racism that I have read here.
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You’re sweet, Jana. Thank you.
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Thanks for the donation link/address. I’m sure Alexis will receive an overwhelming amount of positive response. The issue at hand is to help a young hero. Shirley, we KNOW you love people of ALL colors. You were the one who brought a black speaker to ladies conference, and have many, many, many black friends whom you hold dear to your heart. Shannon doesn’t know you, but I wish she had the opportunity to meet you and see how wonderful you truly are.
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[…] December 6, 2007 · No Comments Breaking news says that because of one of the the bullets taken in her brave body, Alexis indeed will lose an eye, and as early as tomorrow she willl have surgery to have a prosthetic eye implanted. Although she is slipping in and out of consciousness, her condition remains stable, and indications are that she will survive this tragic event. […]
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You can’t “help but wonder” and insinuate I am a liar because you are deluded by your own ignorance, lack of life experience where this matter is concerned, and your blatant self-righteousness.
This isn’t some mystery revealed only unto me. It is – for the most part – common knowledge.
And why in the world you presume I myself am not a person of colour is beyond me.
Thank you “ladies” for the reminder – No good deed goes unpunished, indeed.
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Shannon, please. Inadequate prenatal care is a problem for many mothers who are at lower income levels or who have financial troubles, which judging from the article this mother obviously is. Acknowledging a difficulty this woman may have faced is not ‘racist’.
Also, your insistance that black people will all react in the same way frankly comes across as a bit racist in itself, and I can’t help but wonder if you are representing the situations you were in truthfully.
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Trying to do you a favour & save you a bunch of grief.
That particular statement gleans HEAPS of anger and outrage from the black community.
Heaps may be an understatement.
With all the press that little girl is getting – which is how I stumbled across your site – I won’t be the only one to see it, and thought perhaps you were unaware (as it seems all of you are) how damaging a remark that can be. I know this, because on more than one occassion I have witnessed it being stated, and the ugly outcome.
I wasn’t insinuating you were a racist, but I assure you, a black person *will* take it that way.
Happy Hanukkah / Merry Christmas.
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I certainly did not think this was a racist remark but, rather, gave the two most common sense reasons for this child to have a massive stroke. Poor child, brave child, her mother’s hero. (And that is not poor as in financial but poor as in pity for having been dealt such a hard hand.)
This should serve as reminder to all to read the entire text and keep every sentence within its context. We can never eradicate racism and prejudice straining at knats and swallowing camels.
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This little girl is an example to us all. What a brave and loving child. May we all be willing to do such a thing for someone we love.
(There’s not a hint of racism in what you wrote, Shirley.)
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You know, Rochelle, I ‘m amazed sometimes at my own naivety. Here I am 69 years old, writing glowingly about a charming little girl, hardly thinking of her color, and really from the picture not even being able to tell what color her mother is–as if it matters one flip to me–when I get waylaid by someone accusing me of racism. “What?” I say. “What are you talking about?”
Oh, well, I’m sure Shannon means well. Good-night, my dear.
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Sister Buxton,
What a heart felt post. I did not take any offense and after reading the article myself, I would have assumed the same.
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Shannon, please. Do you really think this post is at all racist? I wrote very lovingly of this family and in particular of this little girl.
Please be fair. You quoted half my sentence. The complete sentence read: “It is likely her mother did not have adequate prenatal care, or again, maybe it was just a cerebral accident.” I was only pointing out through what odds this magnificent child has persevered.
It is well known that urban women who struggle financially quite often, unfortunately, are not able to have the prenatal care they need. I assumed–perhaps incorrectly–that Alexis’ mother was struggling financially, since the news article mentioned them being cold. Did you read the entire article?
I am disappointed that a racist issue has reared itself here in the midst of a beautiful story in which as far as I can tell, race had absolutely nothing to do with it. I hardly noted this family’s race–really I can’t tell from the picture, and it does not at all matter to me. I am sorry you took offense. In no way am I a racist, and I utterly disdain those who are prejudiced–in either direction.
I wish you well.
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Quote:
“It is likely her mother did not have adequate prenatal care…”
Why in the world would you assume such a thing? You should edit that before you become inundated with charges of racism.
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