Texas resident, Elizabeth Weller, shared her story about being denied an abortion even after doctors ruled her pregnancy non-viable during a House hearing on the effects that abortion bans have on people.
WELLER: “At 19 weeks, my water unexpectedly broke. After we arrived at the ER, it was made clear to us that our daughter, Theodora, would not survive this pregnancy. We were given a choice though, induce labor and terminate this wanted pregnancy or return home and wait for infection to worsen. However when we had made the choice that we felt was best for our family, our terrible experience was exacerbated during a legal backlash from the state of Texas. Our hospital refused to allow our doctor to perform the medically necessary abortion and instead discharged me, instructing us to return when my infection worsened. In the following days, we constantly checked for signs of aggravated infection while we mourned the loss of our daughter. During this time, I experienced a consistent flow of amniotic fluid draining from my body. This was a constant reminder of my baby’s impending death. Although my life and ability to have any future children was put in danger, my life was not an enough immediate danger for the State of Texas to allow for our doctors to perform a medically necessary procedure.”
