National Women’s Survivor Convention

This first of its kind convention for women cancer survivors got off to a "howdy y'all" start this morning in Nashville at the Gaylord Hotel. Well it actually began last night with a pajama party, which had lots of women running around the hotel in sleepware of all kinds. A good time was had by all. The event, five years in the planning, is the brainchild of Karen Shayne, a Nashville marketing type and breast cancer survivor. It is offering the 750 or so attendees national speakers and breakout sessions on every topic imaginable.This morning's keynote Shannon Miller debunked the idea that exercise would protect all women from all cancers. The Olympic gold medal gymnast from the 1996 games in Atlanta was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 and had one ovary removed before going through chemotherapy.Her presentation was inspirational, especially for those younger women in the audience who lived with the fear that they would never have children. Miller gave birth to a daughter, Sterling, in June. It was her second child with husband John Falconetti. The couple already have a son, Rocco. Miller called her daughter a miracle baby and went on to inspire the audience to believe in miracles too.