Shannon Law Group June 2019

Shannon Law Group June 2019

312-578-9501 | www.shannonlawgroup.com JUNE 2019

“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”

–St. Teresa of Calcutta

I have witnessed true love in my life. I watched how my dad (Tom) took care of my mom (JoAnne) in the last years of her life. My dad dedicated those years completely to my mom. There was no middle ground. He was all in. It was all about serving my mom, and that made my dad happy. My mom, JoAnne, had ten kids. Their lives were hectic. I remember sharing a room with two of my brothers and the crowded dinner table when there was never a dull moment. After a lifetime of caring and serving for all of us, my mom suffered from chronic fatigue, acid reflux, and a whole host of physical problems throughout her life. She was on a restrictive diet and absolutely hated the fact she couldn’t eat what she wanted. She wanted to travel the world, but it was hard for her. After all of us kids moved away, my folks stayed in our family home in Yakima, their home for about 50 years, until my dad couldn’t handle it all by himself anymore. As most of you know, I have been blessed to be the next to last child of Tom and JoAnne. Mary Jo is the No. 1 girl in the family. When you meet MJ, you will be a stranger for about 10 seconds. Thereafter, she is finding a way to help you in any way you need. When dad needed help, MJ stepped up and welcomed mom and dad into her home. Just like my dad, MJ was dedicated to making sure that mom lived her last years with respect and dignity among the people she loved. My mom passed away 15 years ago. She died at home with MJ and the family surrounding her. Since that time, my dad has been living with MJ. My siblings in the Seattle area (Kathleen, John, Anne, Tom, Terry) and my nieces and nephews surround my dad regularly. They accompany him like he accompanied mom. Enter one of my role models, Mary JoAnne Shannon, also known as my sister Mary Jo, or MJ.

they don’t want to be a “burden” on us as they age. My sisters and brothers who live by mom and dad have conveyed the following clear message to them: We love you. You are not a burden. You are a blessing. You gave us your all. Now it’s your turn to lean on us. Let’s enjoy each day. Let’s play some cards. Thank you, MJ, for always being there and doing the heavy lifting. Thank you, Kathleen, John, and Anne, for being the constant companions of our parents through it all. You are my role models.

–Joe Shannon

I know there are a lot of people who cannot care for or accompany their elderly parents. I also know that a lot of our parents tell us

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The life of a professional athlete can seem like all glitz and glamour, shaking hands, kissing babies, and occasionally performing in the spotlight under a little bit of pressure. But for every athlete you see on your television screen, there are actually hundreds more in the minor leagues fighting against all odds to make it to the big stage. And some of those athletes have disadvantages that mean they have to work twice as hard just to get the same respect as those who’ve had an easier road. These professionals prove that sometimes all it takes to see your dreams come true is an ability to block out the noise, put your head down, and keep your disabilities from holding you back. Here are two athletes who did just that. BILLY MISKE: FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE Boxing is a sport of extreme violence and diligent strategy. To be a winner, you must be smart and physically capable. For a while, Billy Miske was both of those things — until he was diagnosed with the life-threatening Bright’s disease that severely affected his kidneys. Already considered a bit of an underdog, he

chose to keep fighting to pay off his increasing medical debts and give his family a shot at a better life. As his disease progressed and he realized his days were numbered, fate pitted him against heavyweight Bill Brennan. Despite his doctor’s orders, and despite facing a much larger opponent while he was literally at death’s door, Miske shocked the world by knocking Brennan out and delivering the dream Christmas that he’d promised his children in the process. He died a few days later, immortalized by his fighting spirit and refusal to quit. JIM ABBOTT: NEVER NEEDED A HAND After being born without a right hand, the odds of Jim Abbott playing baseball in any capacity seemed slim, but Jim Abbott didn’t care about the odds. After developing a one-of-a-kind fielding routine where he would switch his glove from his shorter arm to his dominant one, Abbott took his talents all the way to the major leagues. Fans around the world watched as he turned his disability into a 10-year MLB career that included throwing a no-hitter in 1993 against the New York Yankees, which was one of the most remarkable accomplishments in baseball.

Sometimes the sky isn’t enough. Ultimately, the only limits that hold you back are the ones you set for yourself.

HONOR FLIGHT: A MISSION OF THANKS

Usually, when I sit down to write my article each month, I think about the particular significance of that month. For June, two days stand out to me: Father’s Day and Memorial Day, which is a day for remembering the sacrifices made by brave Americans 75 years ago. Of course, I’m referring to the Normandy beach invasions (by men and boys largely younger than I am now) that liberated Europe and laid the foundation for generations of American prosperity.

I first learned of the Honor Flight a few years ago when I discovered both of Caitlin’s grandfathers, Grandpa Jack and Grandpa Doc (both veterans living in Iowa), had signed up for the flight with the help and encouragement of their children. More recently, my Uncle Ray (my Grandma Kassie’s brother from Minnesota) also participated in the event. At some point on their flight, all of the honorees are given letters written by their families and friends that personally thank them for their sacrifice. If I know Caitlin’s Grandpa Doc, I’m sure reading those letters brought him to tears. When my Uncle Ray went on the trip, random tourists on the streets of D.C. were coming up and thanking him. We don’t say thank you enough to the people who have come before us and put in the actual hard work. By all accounts, the Honor Flight is a fantastically run program. I haven’t heard a bad review yet. Without our veteran parents and grandparents, none of us would be in the position we are in today. Period. As Joe often says, “We didn’t hit a triple; we were born on third base.” And it’s because of the brave people like Jack and Doc and Ray (and countless others) that we’re standing there. Thank you!

While there aren’t many World War II veterans left, there are still plenty of veterans who have earned our gratitude for fighting for their county, whether in Korea, Vietnam, or the wars since. In the last few years, I’ve learned about a great program honoring these veterans run by an organization called the Honor Flight Network. The Honor Flight Network is dedicated to providing veterans with honor and closure, while allowing subsequent generations to thank those that came before us. The Honor Flight is a 1-day trip to Washington D.C. for a WWII veteran and a family member. Once in D.C., the organization provides tours of the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and other various war memorials. By design, it’s a quick trip that doesn’t require a crazy commitment to participate.

For more information on the Honor Flight program, check out HonorFlight.org.

–Pat Cummings

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THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCUMENTING YOUR INJURY

We recently resolved a vaccine injury case in which our client developed Guillan- Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of a seasonal influenza shot. These are very rare occurrences, but the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program exists exactly for those rare cases. We’ve had success obtaining compensation for multiple clients with vaccine- induced GBS, but I want to highlight our most recent case for a specific reason.

It’s just as important to document your injuries. By the time a case gets to trial, our clients’ injuries may become less obvious. It can be hard to demonstrate the immediate effects of the crash or vaccine-induced injury to the jury. Photos of bruises, scars, and broken bones help tell the real story. In this case, our client did an excellent job documenting her vaccine injury. She retained all of her receipts and billing statements to document recoverable, out-of-pocket medical costs and enlisted the help of her family members and friends to provide us with witness statements detailing their observations of her health, both before and after the vaccine. On top of that, she also recorded what we refer to as a “day-in-the-life” video demonstrating how her GBS had impacted her daily life. This mountain of evidence made our job much easier and helped us obtain a six-figure settlement for our client. We will always go the extra mile in preparing your case for trial, whether that means hiring an investigator to take photos and talk to witnesses or requesting all of your medical records. However, you can help your own cause early on by following some of the above advice. It will pay dividends down the road.

Whether you are injured in a motor vehicle crash or because of a vaccine, it is crucial that you document your injury and damages immediately. Photographs of the cars involved in a collision can be very helpful in demonstrating the severity of the crash. Photos of the intersection where the crash occurred can help explain how the crash may have happened. Having the name of any witnesses, whether or not they are interviewed by a police officer, can also be crucial. By the time an attorney begins investigating your case, they may have missed the window to get access to vehicles or identify witnesses.

–Jon Svitak

JUNE 2019 DATES OF CONSEQUENCE

BOOK GIVEAWAY: “BEFORE I GO” BY PETER KREEFT

June 1 June 13 June 22 June 23 June 29

Johnny Baseball vs. Athletics Feast of St. Anthony of Padua Johnny Baseball vs. Blue Jays Feast of Corpus Christi Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

“What to do when someone bad-mouths you? Praise them. What to do when someone hurts you? Help them. What to do when someone rejects you? Accept them. They bad-mouth, hurt, and reject because they are weak. You should praise, help, and accept because you are strong. And above all, remember that to everyone else who reads this, the ‘difficult people’ includes you.” – Letter 84, “How to Deal With Difficult People” I’ve got a deal for you. This book takes on big issues in small snack bites. Topics include real love, faith, integrity, values, true enrichment, and success. Kreeft describes the book as “letters to our children about what really matters.” It’s a winner in my book. If you would like a copy, email Brittany at [email protected]. We’ll send you one free of charge.

Every Saturday morning throughout the year, St. Joan of Arc Men’s Group meets from 7–8 a.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Parish Center. Please join us.

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Phone: 312-578-9501 www.shannonlawgroup.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

page 1

From the Desk of Joe Shannon Athletes Who Fought Their Way to the Top

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page 2 page 3

A Mission of Thanks

Why Is Documenting Your Injury Important?

page 3

Book Giveaway: Before I Go June Dates of Consequence

page 3

SUDOKU

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

A boy with his dog

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