Heroic Kiddo with LD Shot Saving Mother

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22301908/

"As the gunman was about to open fire, 7-year-old Alexis Goggins lunged from the back seat of the SUV and threw herself across her mom, crying, 'Don't hurt my mother!'"

"Alexis is learning-disabled and lags behind other youngsters her age. As a result, police say it may never be known whether Alexis meant to shield her mother from the bullets with her body. But Parker said that if her daughter hadn't put herself in between, 'I really don't know. We might have been dead.'"

"In addition to losing her right eye, Alexis was shot in the chin and jaw. Several days after the shooting, the little girl, her face horribly swollen and wrapped in bandages, stirred and squeezed her mother's hand."

What a brave little girl. I know that sounds trite, what with a new hero every week, but seriously, seven years old and saved her mother's life? You hear fairly regularly about people who risk their lives for their kids, but rarely is it the other way around- I can count on one hand the number of times I've read about a child saving the parent. This girl is a hero, and I hope that she is recognized with whatever medals and awards are available. I also feel sorry for her mother, who, if she is a decent human being and parent in any way, shape, or form, is certainly wishing with all her heart that she could take her daughter's pain away and bear it for her.

However, why exactly is it that it 'may never be known' if Alexis saved her mother intentionally? Because she had a stroke as an infant and is in a special education classroom, her heroism is somehow lessened?

The child screamed, "Don't hurt my mother," and shielded her mother's body with her own. She took not just a bullet, but multiple bullets for her mother. But because she has a learning disability, this fact is less clear than if she were a 'normal' child?

No seven year old, genius, special needs, both, or in between, is capable of thinking through the consequences of taking a bullet or several for his or her mother. But, clearly, this particular seven year old was capable of knowing her mother was in danger, and that she wanted to protect her. She was capable of articulating this verbally and capable of physically throwing herself across her mother to shield her.

The police should retract this disabilist statement, apologize, and honor this little heroine with the medal she deserves.
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Alexis's school just told me that there has been a fund set up to assist her family with medical expenses:

Alexis Goggins Hero Fund
c/o Comerica BankCampbell Elementary School
2301 E. Alexandrine Street
Detroit, MI, 48207-1463