28 Days of Impact

28 Days of Impact, a follow up to last year's Blogust, is a month-long celebration of the impact of global vaccines and of the work being done by partners to get vaccines to the children who need them most. Each day in February, we will share incredible stories about the impact that vaccines have on people around the world.

February

click on an image to find out more

Telling the story of Rukshar
Cecily Kellogg, Uppercase Woman
February 1, 2013

I live in the Philadelphia area, am happily married, am mom to a fierce and amazing daughter, and have occasionally been called a bad ass.

Telling the story of Jasir
Elena Sonnino, Live.Do.Grow.
February 2, 2013

A self proclaimed chaser of dreams, Elena tells the story of making every moment matter as a Cancer survivor, freelance writer, travel enthusiast, instructional coach, and runner her perch in the DC suburbs on her blog, Live.Do.Grow.

Telling the story of Toma
Jyl Johnson Pattee, Mom It Forward
February 3, 2013

Jyl Johnson Pattee is the founder of Mom It Forward, co-organizer of the evo Conference, and sits on the ONE Moms Advisory Council, championing global issues for women and families, including health, education, and more.

Telling the story of the uncle
Ilina Ewen, Dirt & Noise
February 4, 2013

I am a progressive girl and accidental activist who has a soft spot for kids (especially my two sons) and animals (but not snakes), and I love all things food-related.

Telling Christina's story
Katherine Stone, Postpartum Progress
February 5, 2013

Katherine Stone is the founder and editor of the top blog on postpartum depression, Postpartum Progress, and a contributor to Disney parenting website Babble.

Telling the story of Nilgun
Suzanne Chan, Mom Confessionals
February 6, 2013

I wear many hats - student, daughter, wife, registered nurse, certified lactation counselor, friend, blogger - but the job I'm most proud of is mother.

Telling her own story from Ethiopia
Liz Gumbinner, Mom-101
February 7, 2013

Liz is a Brooklyn mom of two, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the popular website Cool Mom Picks, and the author of the blog Mom-101. She's been named a top digital influencer by Forbes, Parents and Nielsen, and can frequently be found in media like NBC's TODAY Show discussing parenting trends and culture.

Telling the story of Anne & Emmanuelle
Jeannette Kaplun, Hispana Global
February 8, 2013

Jeannette Kaplun is a Latina mom of 2, award-winning blogger, founder of Hispana Global, cofounder of Todobebé, TV host, author, journalist and Babble Voices contributor who is truly passionate about helping others.

Sharing Ann Lee Hussey's Story
Liz Thompson, This Full House
February 9, 2013

I enjoy writing about the trials and tribulations of raising 4 children, a rambunctious lab named Rudolph (a.k.a. Doofus-Dawg) a delinquent cat and killer dust bunnies

Telling Sahra's story
Roxanna Sarmiento, Everyday Treats
February 10, 2013

I believe that beauty is in the details and that every day is a gift.

Real-Life Stories of the Impact of Global Vaccines #vaximpact
Ana Flores, Spanglish Baby
February 11, 2013

Rodha lives in Bossaso, Somalia. Children born in Somalia have a higher chance of dying before their 5th birthday than anywhere else in the world. I doubt Rodha is aware of that statistic as a fact, but she doesn’t need to — she’s actually living proof of it. Rodha lost two of her nine children to measles after having her family displaced several times before they settled in a nearby displacement camp in Bossaso. That’s where she lost her two children and that’s also when she learned that there are vaccines that can prevent death from so many diseases, like measles.

28 Days of Impact with Shot@Life: Saving kids’ lives
Amy Graff, BabyCenter
February 12, 2013

Typically, the medical clinic is held outside under a tree in front of the school. You won’t find any closed office doors here. Doctors see their patients out in the open, administering vaccines to children sitting in lawn chairs and weighing babies from scales that hang from branches. But because the vaccine rollout was attracting so many people, the clinic also took over the interior of the school, which was shut down for the day.

On travel, photography, and giving kids a shot at life
Karen Walrond, Chookooloonks
February 13, 2013

When I was a kid growing up in Trinidad, it was really important to my dad that we travel as often as possible. In his mind, I think, travel was an integral part of education (also very highly valued by my father -- because his family was relatively poor, he saw education as imperative to living an easier life, scholarshipping his way to a PhD in petroleum engineering). Our house was always filled with encyclopedias and travel books and National Geographics, and we'd pore over the stories and photographs; however, these things, he felt, gave us only an intellectual and academic understanding of the world at large. He wanted my sister and I to have a visceral understanding.

Shot@Life’s 28 Days of Impact: Ezra Teshome and Doing Something Hard
Gina Carroll, Think Act Parent
February 14, 2013

What message could you receive that would make you stop and pay attention? What could happen that would liberate you from the carefully crafted comfort zone of your everyday life? Beyond the easy stuff—Facebook likes, donation drop-offs, petition signatures—what would make you take a leap into something hard? Something inconvenient? Uncomfortable?

Me and Miriam Down by the School Yard
Shannon Carroll, Whiskey in My Sippy Cup
February 15, 2013

Miriam is younger than I am (born in 1977) and has lived in Uganda (her place of birth), Switzerland (Geneva), Kenya (Turi), England (Folkestone, Canterbury, and London), and then back to Uganda with Unicef to work, in what she gorgeously simply describes as behaviour and social change communication. That's not the worst thing to put on one's business card, or life check-list.

Never say Never!
Renee Ross, Cutie Booty Cakes
February 16, 2013

In October I ran a marathon. 26.2 miles. For most people running such a distance is unfathomable. For me, it was something I said I’d NEVER do. Never is a powerful word that we use for self-imposed limitations on ourselves. But the idea of running for hours, after as a child seeing my father complete the distance and end up in a medical emergency did not make the marathon appealing. Nevermind that I was well over 50 pounds overweight when I made the declaration.

If I can’t convince you to vaccinate, perhaps I can convince you to advocate
Julie Marsh
February 17, 2013

All infants and children are more susceptible to illness than adults, but some infants and children are put in grave danger by others’ careless refusals because they are immunocompromised. Some may be fighting chronic illnesses, such as cancer, and are unable to receive vaccinations. Some have a family history of sensitivity or adverse reactions, which may require a delayed schedule. By vaccinating our own healthy infants and children, we are helping protect those who are immunocompromised.

Daredevil Sikha Patra
Tracey Clark, Shutter Sisters
February 18, 2013

Before the election my daughter’s World History teacher asked her class to share what issues they would present the President with if they had the chance. My daughter eagerly shared her passion for eradicating Polio and said that, if given the chance she would urge the President to help us with the support and final financial push needed to end the disease. He teacher questioned her issue coming back with, “Polio? Really? Aren’t we done with that? I think there are far more pressing issues.” Needless to say she was deflated, not to mention frustrated because she knows better.

John Boozman, U.S. Senator (R-AR)
February 19, 2013

Telling the story of Fazli
CC Chapman
February 20, 2013

Writer, photographer and explorer making the world a better place through creativity.

Telling the tale of three brothers
Anissa Mayhew, Free Anissa
February 21, 2013

Anissa Mayhew has 3 kids, a wheelchair and is the founder of Aiming Low and Free Anissa - where wheelchairs are the new black.

Telling the story of Ramesh
Clay Nichols, Dad Labs
February 22, 2013

Clay Nichols is co-founder and editor of DadLabs.com, an author, playwright, husband, and dad to Wilson (14), Riley (11) and Cooper (8).

Telling the story of Constant
Fadra Nally, All Things Fadra
February 23, 2013

I spent years in research, teaching, travel, software, and marketing. When unemployment struck (twice), I decided to go find myself through my own blog.

Telling the story of Mohammad
Jennifer Burden, World Moms Blog
February 24, 2013

Jennifer Burden is a stay-at-home mom who voluntarily runs World Moms Blog, a collaborative international website on motherhood, culture, human rights and social good that writes from 18 countries.

Telling her own story from Guatemala
Tiany Davis, Social Savvy Mom
February 25, 2013

Tiany wears many hats and juggles many jobs as a homeschool mom to four boys, wife, mom-preneur and social media engager.

Telling her own story from Uganda
Jenny Eckton, Formerly Phread
February 26, 2013

I blog to write, to connect, to laugh, and to share evolving ideas and start conversations; sometimes I'm funny.

Telling the story of Baby Harriet
LaShaun Martin, Shootie Girl
February 27, 2013

LaShaun Martin is the National Director of Community Service and Social Media for Mocha Moms, Inc. Mocha Moms, Inc. was founded in 1997 by four mothers of color in Maryland who saw the need for a growing segment of stay at home mothers of color to connect and support each other. Today, the national, non-profit organization has 100 chapters and more than 3,000 members in 29 states throughout the country. The primary mission of Mocha Moms, Inc. is to support and encourage women of color who are making parenting a priority in this season in their lives. Its platform includes strengthening marriages and families, promoting self-care, strong educational foundations and volunteerism.

Telling the story of two little brothers
Jim Lin, Busy Dad Blog
February 28, 2013

Jim is a marketing professional who hones his power of persuasion during the day, but has yet to figure out how to convince his kids to go to bed already. He jots it all down on The Busy Dad Blog, so he can laugh about it. Later.