SHREVEPORT, La. aEUR” A young mother from Texas made it to Shreveport after days of uncertainty. The clinic was reopening on Tuesday.
“I was very scared. J said that she thought she would have to travel 12 miles to Albuquerque.
J was concerned that she would not be able keep her appointment at Hope Medical Group for Women Shreveport after the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe V. Wade. This is because Louisiana has been trying to enforce its abortion bans. J knew that she could not get a legal procedure in Texas at home because of a September state law, which prohibits most abortions within six weeks.
New Mexico would have been the closest option aEUR”, but that would have meant a long drive with her husband, and her three young sons. J, who is 27 years old, was relieved to learn that Hope Medical Group could resume services after a state court reprieve granted reproductive rights lawyers a temporary halt, which allowed abortions to continue for the time being.
She says, “I don’t believe that my overall health is capable of taking it, let alone my psychological health.” “I have three children already, so I am pretty useless as a pregnant woman. This has been the case with every one of my pregnancies. It’s just that I can’t function.”
J suffers from hyperemesis, which is a condition that causes severe vomiting and weight loss during pregnancy. She claims she has difficulty keeping water down and has been admitted multiple times. J believes being a mother is about not putting her children through this again. She made the right decision to end her pregnancy for her children.
The Supreme Court’s Friday decision set off a series of trigger abortion bans across the country. Staff at Hope Medical Group in Shreveport had no choice but to send everyone home. Kathaleen Pittman was the clinic’s administrator. She described it as a nightmare.
She says, “I don’t know which person cried more: the staff or patients.”
The clinic can now offer the procedure temporarily again after a New Orleans judge has issued a temporary restraining or on a number of state abortion restrictions. However, the staff is extremely concerned about the future of its patients and the short-term relief they provide.
Lawyers for the Center for Reproductive Rights (CORE) and the American Civil Liberties Union prepared legal challenges to trigger laws in many states. They won some temporary victories in state court on Monday and Tuesday following Friday’s Supreme Court decision.
Louisiana abortion rights advocates claimed that it was not clear which state’s multiple abortion bans are in effect aEUR” and that they themselves are confusing. In the interim, the judge blocked enforcement of these laws until a July 8 hearing.
Hope Medical Group staff began to call their patients “aEUR”, including J.
She says, “Thank goodness.” “I was so happy to hear I could still come,” she said.
Pittman took a break from his phones Monday to view local news on a waiting-room TV, hours after a New Orleans judge had issued a restraining or allowing the clinic’s reopening. A screen showed the clinic’s front doors, which drew some unexpected reactions from a few employees. Pittman is used this fight.
She said, “It’s just part of everyday life.” “It’s impossible for me to imagine going to work every morning without something hanging over my head.”
Kayla Stewart began working at the clinic just five months ago. This was not long after SB 8 started sending hundreds to Texas’ doorsteps for assistance. Monday was spent trying to reach patients sent home Friday to try to get them on the schedule. The phone never ceased ringing with new appointments requests. The news of the restraining orders was quickly spreading.
She told the distraught woman, “At this moment, we are not making any new appointments.”
Stewart, 23 years old, was present on Friday when Roe v. Wade news broke. They had to send several patients across the state line. Some of these patients had driven all night to get their appointments that day. She said that while most people were happy to receive the call to put the appointment back on the calendar, it is not possible for everyone to come back.
She said that five of the women she had planned are too far ahead. “And other people can’t drive all the way back.”
What about those who are trying desperately to get onto the books? Steffi Chaffee was Stewart’s colleague. She tried to calm another panicked voice over the phone, after telling her that they were fully booked.
She said, “I understand honey,” to the caller. “The whole thing doesn’t seem fair.”
“Do you know what the most frightening part is?” After hanging up, she said. “Half of them don’t even know what’s happening. “What’s Roe and what’s the difference?” Wade?’ Wade?
Chaffee said that it is difficult enough to keep up with all legal updates while maintaining her job. The goal is to keep the doors open for as long as possible, but that’s not the end of the story.
Chaffee answered the phone again.
Chris Davis was praying in front of the clinic’s gate. He stated that the clinic was not supposed to be open, and that he had come to “make certain” that no abortions were being performed that day. He said that he can tell the difference from the sidewalk by the way the women look after leaving the building.
He said, “Women come in pregnant and walk out empty.”
Davis, an anti-abortion advocate, approaches patients outside the clinic to talk them through their procedures. He stated that he works for an organization that provides prenatal care and a room for pregnant women up to the age of 3 months.
He said that there is no medical reason to have an abortion, but he also gave a flawed explanation about ectopic pregnancies as well as the female reproductive system. He dismissed any conflicting medical information and claimed that any doctor disagreeing with him was simply a pro-choice physician.
He replied “Almost” when asked if he was a doctor.
On Tuesday morning, the phone rang without pause as staff opened the clinic. Patients parked in the lot.
Jamie Cantrell approached each car and suggested that they go back in the spaces to hide their plates.
She said that “Sometimes people will come out with cameras to take photos” and was referring to the legal battles that could be awaiting those who seek abortions or help them in any other way.
Louisiana’s Republican attorney General Jeff Landry has pledged to defend the state’s restrictions on abortion. Sarah Zagorski (communications director at Louisiana Right to Life) says that she is confident that abortion will soon be outlawed in the state and that the restraining orders will be lifted.
She says, “It’s going be dismissed, and our Louisiana statute will stand.” “Our 2022 Reaffirmation Human Life Protection Act is clear and unambiguous. We believe they are just trying to hold on to their doors.
J and the other patients are busy inside, following clinic staff’s instructions to complete paperwork and silence their phones. J said that she is looking forward to returning home to her family.
She says, “I want to leave this feeling better.” “Because right this moment I feel extremely sick and am unable to function and take good care of my children.”
Pittman spent the last few days in her office trying to keep up the calls from patients and to communicate with lawyers about the options for the clinic leading up to the July 8 court date. She admits she is aware that her victory may be temporary.
She says, “To someone looking in from the outside, it may seem like a futile battle.” “And to that end, I would refer to you to the patients who are seen in the interim. It means everything to them.”
