Dickerson Oxton - October 2020

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

OCT 2020

ANIMAL BITES

CAR ACCIDENTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Visiting MuirWoods

BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

THE BEAUTY IN SILENCE AND NATURE

The popular travel guide, Lonely Planet, states that October is one of the best months to visit America’s national parks, and that’s something that caught my attention. My family and I have always been the type to visit a national park whenever we’re on vacation, at any time in the year. In past newsletters, I’ve written about our trips to a few national parks across the country, and this is another great opportunity to talk about another experience my family and I enjoyed. Although not necessarily a national park, about two years ago in July, we visited Muir Woods, which is a federally protected national monument. It coincided with a good friend’s wedding. The two of us have been very close for many years, and I was happy to celebrate this moment with her as one of her bridesmaids. She lives in California, which meant the location was absolutely stunning. It was out in Napa Valley, and it was a perfect day, complete with beautiful weather and a great venue. While we were there, my family decided to extend the trip more than the usual 3–4 days a wedding trip would have taken. We ended up staying in California for around 5–6 days because we wanted to explore San Francisco and see Muir Woods National Monument.

park. There’s so much open space around you, and it’s quiet and so beautiful. It really helps you enjoy nature, and you feel so refreshed afterward. The only thing I regret is not taking very many pictures on each of our trips, which I suppose is also a good thing. I get so caught up in the moment and want to enjoy it that I forget to take pictures — I’m lucky my husband takes lots of photos. That’s exactly what happened on our Muir Woods trip. We spent a whole day there and hiked through the forest, hitting the gift shop at the end of our trip to pick up some goodies for the rest of our family. Something we thought was a little funny was that as we were going into the park, we actually ran into the family of my friend who had gotten married. Everyone wanted a chance to walk through these woods. One of the most memorable moments was contemplating a plaque on display toward the beginning of the trail into the forest. I think the tree it featured had either fallen or they had done some scientific testing on it, but the plaque featured a picture of all its rings and talked about how this tree was thousands of years old. The picture also pointed out time periods of the tree’s rings and how those corresponded to various events and times in human history. When I was younger, I wasn’t able to experience very many national parks, and now, as an adult, I can truly value them. I’m one of those people who thinks it’s so important to maintain and preserve these amazing natural areas — to always have that space and never become a culture that invades and industrializes everything we discover. And, while I might not be able to visit very many parks this year, I look forward to my future trips to experience the beauty of these parks again and again.

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES

BURN INJURIES

CONSTRUCTION INJURIES

NURSING HOME ABUSE

SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS

From my perspective, taking every opportunity to visit national parks or anything similar is one of the best parts of any trip. It’s so wonderful to be in a space that is preserved and untouched. It’s so rare compared to your day-to-day life, surrounded by the daily hustle and bustle, especially when you work in the downtown area and live in a fairly

"There's so much open space around you, and it's quiet and so beautiful."

BOATING ACCIDENTS

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

–Chelsea Dickerson 1

populated area. We have small local parks around where we live, but there’s something special about going to a national

PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES

There's More to an A Physical Injuries and Fina Our mental health is a crucial part of our lives. Doing what we can to take care of ourselves, whether it be through self-care or talking to a counselor, can help us even through some of the most difficult moments in our lives. Sometimes, this could be after a rather serious accident. When someone is involved in a serious accident, there are many things to worry about: working with insurance, finding treatment and healing from physical injuries, coping with financial setbacks, and fixing the car. Yet, mental health can also play a key factor in a person’s life as they struggle to move past and beyond the accident. Many emotional reactions will fade over time, but other conditions will linger. They can eventually begin taking their toll on all aspects of their life, including their work, relationships, productivity, and interests. Three of the most common types of mental issues that serious accidents can cause are acute and post-traumatic stress disorders, persistent anxiety, and depression.

could a llama save us from covid-19? MEET WINTER, A 4-LEGGED HERO OF VACCINE RESEARCH Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to their four-legged friends for help and comfort. In Nebraska, an 11-year-old girl and her pony, Peanut, cheered up nursing home residents through their windows this spring, while in Pennsylvania, an award-winning golden retriever named Jackson starred in videos that kept thousands laughing. Pets like these have given the national mood a boost, but another four-legged critter deserves just as much recognition. Her name is Winter, and she’s the 4-year-old llama whose antibodies could help us beat the coronavirus. At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Llamas? Really? What will these scientists think up next?” But in fact, Winter wasn’t an outside-of-the- box discovery during the COVID-19 vaccine scramble. Llamas have been helping scientists battle viruses for years. That’s because, along with her fuzzy brown coat and long eyelashes, Winter has a unique virus treatment hidden in her blood: llama antibodies. According to The New York Times, Winter has participated in past studies for both SARS and MERS — diseases also caused by coronaviruses — and her antibodies fought off both infections. Llamas have also helped out with research for HIV and influenza. It turns out llama antibodies are smaller than the ones found in humans, which makes it easier for them to wiggle into the tiny pockets in virus-carrying proteins. This superpower gives them the ability to “neutralize” viruses, including COVID-19. Studies are now showing that using these llama antibodies in humans could potentially keep coronaviruses from entering human cells as well. At least two separate llama studies have shown the effectiveness of these antibodies on coronavirus infections. This summer, a team of researchers from the U.K. discovered that llama antibodies “have the potential to be used in a similar way to convalescent serum, effectively stopping progression of the virus in patients who are ill” when given to those patients in a transfusion. They also suggested that a cocktail of llama and human antibodies could be even more successful at temporarily blocking the virus. Studies of the latter are in the works, and scientists around the world have their fingers crossed for success. In the meantime, Winter will continue peacefully grazing in Belgium, unaware that she just might play a role in saving the world.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the more common, and it causes a person to have flashbacks and recurring thoughts of the accident, experience emotional

A Potential Lawsuit for Faulty Port-a-Caths

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Accident thaN ancial Loss

distancing and numbness, and to be hyper-vigilant.

• Persistent or high anxiety

can lead to panic attacks, sleep disorders, deteriorating physical health, and even phobias.

TAKE A BREAK

• Depression causes someone to feel

guilt or worthlessness, a lack of energy, irrational anger, and an inability to sleep.

An essential rule to keep in mind is that mental health issues need to be treated just like a physical injury. It’s important to seek out help when you need it, either by talking to a doctor, a psychiatrist,

Spooky Strawberry Ghosts These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!

or a counselor. They can offer exercises and coping methods to help you through the problems you are going through. Additionally, they can give you the tools you need to help you face these issues head on.

If you are suffering from poor mental health, ask your doctor about seeing a professional who specializes in mental health. They can help you through these difficult times.

INGREDIENTS

Almost everyone knows what it’s like to be pricked by a needle. From shots to blood draws, we know we’ll experience a quick pinch and then it’s all said and done. For some people, however, it’s not. People who need to receive cancer treatments, kidney dialysis, or long-term IV medications are constantly exposed to repeated needle sticks. When your veins are constantly accessed, it can be hard on the veins and the whole body. That is why people choose to go on long-term IV access. Long-term IV access is when a device called a port-a-cath is placed, usually under the skin on the right side of the chest. From this port, a catheter is guided to the large vein — the superior vena cava — on the right side of the heart. This allows doctors to continue treatment and blood draws without continually sticking their patients with needles. While port-a-caths are extremely beneficial for people, there have been reports of unfortunate incidents revolving around them. When a port-a-cath is installed, used, or cared for incorrectly, it can lead to both long-term and short-term health problems, such as an arterial injury or infection. Yet, the problems someone experiences with their port-a-cath could stem from something other than improper installation, use, and care. Doctors, patients, and even third parties have filed FDA Adverse Event Reports, stating that their port-a-caths have fractured while inside the patients. Recently, port-a-caths from medical manufacturer C. R. Bard have been the subject of potential mass tort cases for this reason. This is a serious condition, as the fractured piece of the device can travel into the heart or another part of the body where surgery is required to remove it.

• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries • 1 package mini dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

If you or someone you know has had a problem with their Bard port-a-cath, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit. Call our team at Dickerson Oxton Law Firm to learn more.

Inspired by Candiquik.com

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THIS ISSUE

Taking the Chance to Visit Natural Wonders Could a Llama Save Us From COVID-19? Taking Care of Your Mental Health A Potential Lawsuit for Faulty Port-a-Caths Take a Break Spooky Strawberry Ghosts When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween

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THE SPOOKY 'STARWARS' SHORTAGE OF 1977 A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be.

In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes.

Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit

ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.

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