In Shreveport, Louisiana, Hope Medical Group for Women struggles to meet patient abortion demands as a surge of traveling patients from states banning abortion overwhelms the providers. Lorena*, 38, is one of those patients. A mother of four, Lorena balances her demanding job, childcare, her teen daughter’s serious heart condition, and financial burdens brought on by the pandemic. Seeking an abortion, she and her military veteran fiancé drive four hours from Texas to Hope Medical Group in Shreveport to access the healthcare she needs to keep her family afloat. Once there, they are confronted by anti-abortion protestors. Unfortunately, a common occurrence that affects the clinic daily as restrictive abortion bans are implemented in nearby states, more patients travel across state lines to seek reproductive healthcare in Louisiana.
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Thank you to Hope Medical Group Director Kathaleen Pittman, the clinic assistant, patient advocates, and all staff, Dr. Bhavik Kumar, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, and Planned Parenthood. Special thanks to Lorena, her family, and all who shared their stories with us.
Some names have been changed to protect identities. Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Louisiana means that some groups in Louisiana are changing or pausing their operations. Go to AbortionFinder.org to get up-to-date information on where to access an abortion. Go to Plan C Pills to learn how to access abortion pills. Check out Planned Parenthood’s Ban Off our Bodies to get involved.
This podcast was brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive Producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with Co-Producer Kathleen Bedoya and Associate Producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman with production services provided by Pidge Productions and story producing by Lynn Hughes and Bruno Falcon. Research assistance was provided by Sarah Field Bullion and production coordinating by June Neely. Impact strategy was led by Charity Tooze. Narration by Tatiana St. Phard. Music by Valeri Ortiz.
*Indicates name change