Cancer victim's friends come to Gov. Rick Perry's (R-TX) defense over HPV vaccine decision

“I think he truly had a heart for this young woman”

HOUSTON (KTRK) - Texas Governor Rick Perry is still taking heat for a controversial executive order he issued four years ago. It mandated that all 11- and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated for human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. The now-overturned order is becoming a big issue in Perry's presidential campaign.

Governor Perry is taking a lot of criticism for the vaccine decision. The most damage seems to be due to the suggestion he forced a vaccine on 12-year-old girls to help a political donor.

The donor is Mike Toomey, a longtime friend and Perry's two-time chief of staff. Toomey has given $41,000 in campaign contributions to Perry while Perry has been governor. Only $9,000 of that was given before the HPV vaccine decision was made, though.