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Rick Perry's HPV Stance Grounded in Case of Heather Burcham, Who Died of Cervical Cancer
ABC News ^ | September 15, 2011 | GINA SUNSERI

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cancervaccine; cervicalcancer; gardasil; govmandates; perry; perry2012
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To: Grunthor; SoConPubbie

The ONLY one who said that was you, Grunthor.

Please also let us know why/how she was misdiagnosed.


21 posted on 09/15/2011 10:06:03 AM PDT by Diogenesis ("Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. " Pres. Ronald Reagan)
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To: SoConPubbie

Needs to be said.

Rick Huckaperry, compassionate republican.


22 posted on 09/15/2011 10:06:12 AM PDT by dforest
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Has the Southern Poverty Law Center weighed in yet on this?


23 posted on 09/15/2011 10:06:20 AM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (Perry's idea of border control: Use both hands to welcome the illegals right in.)
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To: Diogenesis

“Please also let us know why/how she was misdiagnosed.”

I’m no doctor.


24 posted on 09/15/2011 10:06:51 AM PDT by Grunthor (Perry, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, Romney, Pretty much in that order for now.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Never claimed to be a doctor.


25 posted on 09/15/2011 10:08:12 AM PDT by Grunthor (Perry, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, Romney, Pretty much in that order for now.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

Do you also oppose the whooping cough and measles vaccines?


26 posted on 09/15/2011 10:08:22 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
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To: Carling

The vaccine may not have kept her from getting cancer anyway. I would NEVER take anything like this and if I had a daughter, I would not want her to take it either. You can still get cervical cancer whether or not you take this vaccine!
Plus there is NO way to know how this will affect you for the rest of your life or your offspring!


27 posted on 09/15/2011 10:08:31 AM PDT by Cricket24 (Proud to be a CONSERVATIVE WOMAN!!!!!!!)
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To: indylindy
Rick Huckaperry, compassionate republican.

Common ploy by deceitful politicians, wrap yourself in either an emotional or religious blanket when making excuses for your position on an issue when your position is not one of limited government or even morally correct.
28 posted on 09/15/2011 10:08:37 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

You don’t think that in 10 years of Texas politics, that this stuff wouldn’t have already been trotted out in Austin?


29 posted on 09/15/2011 10:09:23 AM PDT by RockinRight (Carter Obama and Reagan the nation!)
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To: indylindy

Mail.


30 posted on 09/15/2011 10:09:37 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; RoosterRedux; jonrick46; deepbluesea; RockinRight; TexMom7; potlatch; ...
Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

31 posted on 09/15/2011 10:09:37 AM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I think Rick Santorum said it best.

I think we need to hear what Governor Perry’s saying. He’s saying that his policy was right. He believes that what he did was right. He thinks he went about it the wrong way.

I believe your policy is wrong. Why — ladies and gentlemen, why do we inoculate people with vaccines in public schools? Because we’re afraid of those diseases being communicable between people at school. And therefore, to protect the rest of the people at school, we have vaccinations to protect those children.

Unless Texas has a very progressive way of communicating diseases in their school by way of their curriculum, then there is no government purpose served for having little girls inoculated at the force and compulsion of the government. This is big government run amok. It is bad policy, and it should not have been done.

32 posted on 09/15/2011 10:09:41 AM PDT by McGruff (Vetting - The process of examination and evaluation of a candidate's record.)
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To: SoConPubbie

There is no spinning going on here, nor is any needed. I am making fun of people that seem to believe that the compassionate policy would be to allow sluts to die.


33 posted on 09/15/2011 10:09:56 AM PDT by Grunthor (Perry, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, Romney, Pretty much in that order for now.)
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To: Cricket24

Lucky for you, had you lived in Texas, you would have been able to opt-out of the vaccine.

I also pray that your daughters don’t get cervical cancer, because if they do, it will be on you.


34 posted on 09/15/2011 10:10:39 AM PDT by Carling
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To: All; shield
HPV test may be better predictor of cervical cancer than pap smear
35 posted on 09/15/2011 10:10:54 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Grunthor
Get them all out now so there is no “October surprise.”

Says the guy who just equated reasonable problems with Perry's action in this case to wanting women to die and outlawing sex?

You and the rest of the Perrycites don't want any of his record exposed. At least now. After the election when the Dems and media do it for us, you'll be able to say 'So, what, Obama did the same thing!!'.

And we'll have legitimized corrupt behavior and sink deeper into the abyss. w00 h00.

36 posted on 09/15/2011 10:11:04 AM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (Perry's idea of border control: Use both hands to welcome the illegals right in.)
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To: Grunthor

Speaking of the last debate, did you notice how Romney was attacked by Palin and Bachmann?

Me either.


37 posted on 09/15/2011 10:11:04 AM PDT by Outlaw Woman (GOD 2012 because no one else will do)
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To: McGruff

“at the force and compulsion of the government”

opt-out.


38 posted on 09/15/2011 10:11:05 AM PDT by Grunthor (Perry, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, Romney, Pretty much in that order for now.)
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To: TheThirdRuffian

Whooping cough and measles are spread by casual contact. You can get them by simply sitting next to somebody who is infected.

Do you oppose requiring everyone must have the flu shot? The flu is very contagious and kills people every year.


39 posted on 09/15/2011 10:11:20 AM PDT by beandog (You can't elevate Perry by tearing down Palin)
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To: TheThirdRuffian
Do you also oppose the whooping cough and measles vaccines?

How are these transmitted?

40 posted on 09/15/2011 10:12:07 AM PDT by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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