Breanna Barnard, 12, is your normal teenager.

She loves math, basketball, and has a passion for playing the “Guitar Hero” video game. But these days, she’s been told by doctors to take it easy.

In July, Barnard was given the much-hyped HPV vaccine, otherwise known as Gardasil. It’s a popular vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in young girls.

“It was quick and easy, “her mother Teresa Barnard said. But her feelings quickly changed one month later during a family vacation. She noticed her daughter was having some problems.

“She started walking really strange. At first it was funny because she couldn’t walk.” Her mom said.

It got worse.  “I couldn’t feel my arms, I couldn’t talk, “said the young girl.

When it lasted three hours, her mother had enough.  She took Breanna to a Washington state hospital, where a doctor became concerned. 

Barnard said an EEG showed slow brain movement on one side of her brain.  If that wasn’t enough to concern to this mother of four, just wait until you hear what the doctor told her.

“She told me they get a lot of girls in here, with the same side effects.”  What was the link?  Barnard claims the doctor says it was the HPV vaccine.

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“I was afraid it could happen again and mad. “ She said.

 Her anger grew when she got online to see many medical watchdog websites that talked about the dangerous, possibly deadly side effects of the vaccine.

“I was furious that I wasn’t informed.” She said.   

HPV vaccine or Gardasil is a growing option for parents concerned about their girls getting cervical cancer.  It is FDA approved and has been on the market for two years.

Portland gynecologist Dr. Richard Rosenfield has given hundreds of girls the vaccine and stands behind it.

“If there was a seizure, there is reason for concern.  But if we can decrease cervical cancer for girls, we are going to offer it. “Said Rosenfield.

As for Breanna, her mom will never take her to get the injection again, and to parents, she offers some advice.

“Go online, look at the class action lawsuits, be your own advocate.”

The FDA and Merck, the company that manufactures the drug, stand by the vaccine, saying it’s safe and effective to prevent cervical cancer.