Posted on 09/15/2011 9:55:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Heather Burcham died in 2007 when she was 31. Cervical cancer killed her. She was misdiagnosed at age 26, and by the time she knew she had cancer, it was too late for effective treatment.
But she changed lives by living hers so passionately.
She was deeply religious, quick-witted, loving, with a quirky sense of humor; and she was determined to save other young women. Her passion for a cause made her a "Person of the Week" on ABC's "World News" program in 2007. Heather likely would have been shouting from the rooftops in frustration, listening to the current political debate about the HPV vaccine.
For her, the HPV vaccine was about saving lives, not politics, not campaign donations. She probably would have been heartbroken to hear Texas Gov. Rick Perry backtrack from his commitment to have girls vaccinated against cervical cancer.
Perry made her the poster child for his HPV executive decision, and spoke eloquently at her funeral. What a difference four years later as he debates the topic with other Republican candidates.
Her words to ABC News in 2007 still resonate, in light of the current debate in which this one face of the disease has been lost amid the political rhetoric.
"I don't want to have died in vain," she said. "I don't want my life to have no purpose whatsoever, and if I can help spread the word about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, then I haven't lived in vain."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Related:
KTRK TV: Cancer Victim’s Friends Come to Perry’s Defense
Impossible, I’ve read here on FR that only sinners who deserve to die by stoning get HPV and cancer.
She may be dead, but at least she wasn’t retarded...
Still doesn’t take away from the fact that Rick Perry’s first, initial response to this issue was the Emotional Nanny-State response of Big-Government fixing the issue, forcing the Insurance Companies to cover this vaccine for a sexually acquired disease.
Why make everyone pay for something via increased insurance costs that not everyone needs?
That is nanny-state government at it’s best, and is also a form of soft-socialism.
Only sluts get HPV. They don’t deserve a vaccine. I’ve read that here on FR, shortly after the last debate.
Yep, ABC and the rest of the media are salivating to have Rick Perry as the GOP nominee. The guy is an October Surprise in cowboy boots.
There are probably 50 things they could choose from for an October Surprise.
If only. If only we could just outlaw sex.
She died from poor medical care, not the lack of forced vaccination of young girls.
You and yer hubby seem to have a common theme to your posts
She died from cervical cancer.
She didn’t get a vaccine.
What’s your point?
Trotting out warm-n-fuzzy distraction stories, insults, straw man arguments, and demagoguery.
Yet another similarity that Rick Perry has with Obama: his supporters.
It is ridiculous to claim that Perry backtracked his position on supporting the vaccine. All he did is regret manadating through EO and not work with the legislature.
I am not really impressed by how he simplifies his “regret” because he fought it tooth and nail until the last minute. But, that is different from saying he backtracked from his support for the vaccine or the need to vaccinate.
There is one thing that is a bit disturbing to me. Gov Perry is not coming out and explaining things clearly and concisely nor is he defending himself. That bothers me. We saw what happened to GW when he sat meekly while being butchered in the press.
If Gov Perry had simply stated the reasons for his decision, even though he went about it in the wrong way, very few would be wanting his head on a platter (and still do btw).
If Gov Perry would come out and explain the reasons behind his stance on immigration/in-state tuition, that would go far in shutting down the flamers.
Instead, he lets it slide (from what I’ve read/seen). That is a huge mistake.
If one sad story is enough of a justification for government to chip away at our rights, we might as well don the chains and shackles right now.
Perry has his warts, but that is what the vetting process is all about. Get them all out now so there is no “October surprise.”
Romney is a liberal from Taxachusetts. I don’t trust any Republican that was electable in Taxachusetts.
Michele Bachmann is a proven liar.
Ron Paul is an antisemitic nut.
No one else has the pull or the money to compete.
My tagline shows in order who I like for the nomination but I am not narrow minded enough to believe that Cain, Santorum or Gingrich has a chance in hell.
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