Abortion in America
A North Texas nurse wanted to ease her baby’s suffering. She had to leave Texas to do it.
Synopsis
Melanie Rummel, a registered nurse and North Texas resident, was a few months pregnant when she learned her baby girl had a fatal genetic disorder. Her daughter wouldn’t survive, and she was suffering.
As Melanie and her husband processed their grief, they made the choice to end the pregnancy. But under Texas law, their doctor couldn’t offer guidance—not on the procedure, not on where to go, not even on the possibility of future pregnancies. Instead of being able to end her pregnancy with her doctor, Melanie was forced to leave the state to get the abortion she needed.
Melanie spoke with Abortion in America in Austin, Texas to bring greater attention and awareness to the experiences of people living in states with abortion bans.
So we had just gotten the worst news of our life — and were left completely in the dark.
Leitaea Lowrimore went to three ERs in two states in the middle of a medical crisis. No one would treat her.
Kishaya Holloway is an artist in Arkansas. She never questioned her decision to have an abortion, only the barriers that made it difficult to access care.
