Shot@Life - We need to talk. Mom to mom.

We need to talk. Mom to mom.

January 11, 2012 BY Jennifer Burden

We need to talk. Mom to mom. Have you ever taken your child for their vaccinations? – If so, then you can probably relate. My four-year old child asks me the entire ride to the doctor’s office about 50 times if she’s getting a shot. I answer back every time, “Yes, but it will only be a pinch. It will be over soon.” In the meantime, I’m thinking, “I so do not want to be doing this today!”

I dread my children’s vaccination appointments just like the next mom, but a recent experience taught me to look at them in a different light and convinced me to become an advocate for Shot@Life, a movement to protect children worldwide by providing life-saving vaccines where they are most needed.

I’m a mom, just like you, who cared enough about maternal and children’s health issues around the world to join the Million Moms Challenge this past fall. Now, I’m asking you to take my hand and walk just one step further with me on this journey to save children’s lives around the world. I’m taking you on my vaccination epiphany. Let’s see if this helps the sting go away for you during your child’s next vaccination visit:

It’s time for the vaccinations. My daughter begins to cry, anxiety levels rise. My heart is in my stomach.

“Why do I have to have one, Mommy?” ”It prevents you from getting a really bad disease that can make you really sick,” I say.

Within seconds, it’s over. Our anxiety disappears and we move on with our day, carefree. However, since learning more about children in developing countries without access to vaccines, new thoughts took hold of my mind that day…thoughts about how somewhere around the world, a mother mourns the loss of her son from diarrhea. Another mother holds on desperately to her child who will die of pneumonia tomorrow.

A mother’s child. Gone. Lost to a disease that the western world has the ability to prevent. Somewhere around the world a mother is mourning. And someone could have helped. I could have helped.

I’m telling you this because I believe you care, like me. I’m asking you to walk with me on this journey to save a child’s life. Some moms walk as far as 15 miles to reach life-saving vaccines for their children. I’m asking you to simply sign up and join the Shot@Life movement.

We have the power and know-how to save these children. Let’s put our baby-holding-arm-muscles behind this cause. Join me in giving children around the world the Shot@Life they deserve!

Moms, let’s do this!

Jennifer Burden
Founder/Editor, World Moms Blog
Shot@Life supporter since September 2011

POSTED IN: Champions, Parenthood, Supporters, Vaccines

Comments

Submitted by ccyl on: January 15, 2012 Thank you for the reminder that all moms don't have the choice whether to vaccinate their kids or not...and it's costing lives

Submitted by Christina on: January 11, 2012 Excellent post. I would love to help you and shot@life. This is a great cause.

Submitted by wisemommies on: January 11, 2012 Thank you for sharing the shot@life with us. We do support this movement! Thank you for caring. We have signed up. www.wisemommies.com and www.facebook.com/wisemommies

Submitted by thirdeyemom on: January 11, 2012 Jen: Excellent post and very inspirational! I can't wait to work with you and Shot@Life in this great cause. It is a heart-breaking reality for many moms around the world that must change.