HURST — Justin Moran has cerebral palsy and has been in and out of the hospital his entire life.
But Moran, 23, volunteers every Friday at Bishop Davies Nursing Center in Hurst.
From his power wheelchair, he helps the occupational therapists motivate the residents however he can.
Mainly Moran talks with the residents and listens to their life stories.
He met his buddy Alvin Scogin six months ago. "I like to listen to his stories and just to talk to him about his family... just see what's going on in everybody's lives," Moran said.
"If I had a brother, he would be it," Scogin said. "That's what he means to me."
Moran has held on to life by a thread on a few occasions, but despite his personal health problems, he smiles and volunteers his time to try and make others smile.
"That's the way I was raised — to give back," he said.
"Justin has been an inspiration to me," Scogin said. "I look at him and I think I've got it bad. And I see how happy he is with his mother."
The residents at Bishop Davies look forward to Fridays and to Moran's visits. "He doesn't even complain about his situation," Scogin said. "How many of us in here can say we haven't complained about it, our situations?"
Scogin, who had a slight case of pneumonia and was having trouble breathing, mustered up the energy to be present the day News 8 came out to honor Justin Moran.
"I wish I could honor him," said a tearful Scogin. "I think the honor is the other way. He honors me by being a friend, and I don't know how to repay it."
Through his struggles, Moran has brought joy to others, drawing strength from his mother — always quietly in the background motivating him.
And so we name Justin Moran today's Our Neighbor.
If you'd like to join Moran in volunteering at Bishop Davies, contact me at the e-mail address below. Please also let me know if you are aware of someone we could feature in a future Our Neighbor report.
E-mail cizzy@wfaa.com
