WOW!  What a day!!!  My alarm clock woke me up this morning at 2:30am and I hit the road to Atlanta at 3:30am.  I had to be set up at 7:00am before the State Immunization Conference began.  It kicked off at 8:00am but most of the attendees arrive early to visit the exhibits.  I was very excited when I got the call inviting me to be a part of the event.  The event organizer, Angie, had been given my name by someone in Savannah that had been keeping up with work promoting the HPV vaccine.  (Thank you to that person!) 

The event had 480 registered attendees.  Most were nurses who were there to learn more info about the new vaccines available and any new data.  There were many speakers including Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer.  You may remember her as our 1976 Miss Georgia.  She had wanted to be a doctor since she was only five years old.  When she was a contestant at the Miss America pageant her question was, “Miss Georgia, what makes you think you can be a doctor?”.  At the time, she was only the second contestant in Miss America history to list being a doctor as her career goal.  I am amazed by how much she and Kara look alike and that they are BOTH past Miss Georgia’s, past Miss America contestants, internal medicine doctors, and both practice at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.

Sandra not only became the doctor she had dreamed of becoming, she also became the youngest president of the 115,000 member American College of Physicians – American Society of Internal Medicine.  She was only the second woman to hold that post. 

It was great to meet yet another person working to promote the HPV vaccine.  She delivered the keynote address today and dedicated her speech to one of her client’s daughters that had recently lost her battle with metastatic cervical cancer.  I think everyone was really touched by seeing photos of one of the 10 woman a day that lose their life to cervical cancer.  The family was so kind to share their story and photos with permission in this time where HIPPA has to keep everyone’s identity private.

Our new cervical cancer posters were a big hit.  These posters explain why I am one mother who will vaccinate my daughter when she is nine.  My prayer is that these posters will save just one life.  I understand that not everyone will share my view and I respect each person’s opinion.  All I ask is that you will give me about five minutes to share a few things that the media has forgotten to mention.  That way, whatever your decision is for your daughter, it will be made with complete information.  

As you probably remember, last month I celebrated my five year anniversary of cancer freedom.  Driving up to Atlanta this morning I reflected on the gift of life and how precious it is.  This weekend do something to celebrate your life!  You deserve to!!!