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“Wow- I really needed this. I’m a physician, and a mom- and I had an abortion at 20weeks for a VERY loved and wanted baby girl that unfortunately was incompatible with life (she a fatal genetic issue with fetal hydrops, resulting in her lungs and kidneys failing to develop). It put me in heart failure, and yet despite the fact that she had no chance at life, and my own health was at risk, I still struggled to get the basic healthcare I required.
In the worst moment of my life, when I was losing a child I had spent years desperately trying to conceive and who was so so loved— I had to go through the most excruciating process, one that stripped me of my humanity and deprived me of compassion and dignity. I dealt with immense fear and shame, had to spend over twelve thousand dollars in seeking care since I lived in a red state that refused to cover any costs and made care impossible. I had to sign “reflection pledges” and be forced to watch my baby’s failing heart as they read a particularly hurtful script about “letting my baby live by giving them up for adoption” when the doctors reading the script knew what I’d been through trying to get pregnant for years— these, my own colleagues, knew there was no universe in which my baby could possibly survive to term or live a moment outside of the womb but were legally required to read me these 3 pages of “options” I didn’t have while I sobbed and begged them to stopped, having to watch my baby nearly still on the ultrasound as her heart was barely able to beat. It was cruel, it was heartless. At a moment in time when I was most vulnerable and needed support and compassionate care, I was denied this. Even worse the fears of my personal safety and job security if anyone ever found out the truth about what I went through.
The trauma I had from this nearly killed me, and yet I am a person with immense privilege who was ultimately able to access the care I needed, even if it was at enormous cost. But the emotional trauma is something I will NEVER get over. I feel ashamed to say that even as a doctor I had no idea how backward some of the laws were in the state where I practiced. I should have been fighting for this sooner, I feel ashamed at how ignorant I was (this was in 2020).
Abortion is healthcare- for everyone- for ANY reason. Every single person deserves access to reproductive healthcare with dignity and compassion. I will fight for this for the rest of my life. Thank you for being a voice for all of us.”
Dukejen04 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/27/23
More reviews of The Defenders
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“Gloria Riviera and Samantha Bee bring empathy and direct discussion to this complex topic. I am riveted by their approach and guests.”
ljd8 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/06/23
“Thank you Gloria, Samantha and the whole team at Lemonada Media who poured your hearts and souls into shining a hopeful spotlight on some of the inspiring heroes in the fight for abortion rights in the U.S. A dose of humor goes a long way in helping listeners engage in this critically important...”Read full review »
Nina Hen via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/30/23
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