Remember their names as you vote

Women are outraged – and they have every reason to be.

When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade In June 2022, it was the first time in history that the Court took away a fundamental right and opened the door for states to ban it Abortion completely. And Texas women in particular are living under an extreme ban even longer: In September 2021, Texas' SB 8 became law, the six-week ban with a “bounty hunter” provision. At the time SB 8 took effect, it was considered the most restrictive abortion ban ever enacted in the United States

Today, 21 states ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the norm Roe v. Wadeand in 13 of those states, abortion is completely illegal. These states are failing women and their families, resulting in preventable deaths and irreparable pain and heartbreak for their families – children without mothers, parents without their daughters, and spouses without their partners.

MS. highlights the stories of these women. This article will be updated to identify each individual name published.

These women should still be alive today. And these are likely not the only cases, as states that implement strict abortion bans have seen significant increases in maternal mortality rates.

Rest in power. And may her death not be in vain.

DATE OF DEATH: September 8, 2021

Barnica was a young mother from Texas who died after a hospital failed to intervene in her miscarriage due to the state's 2021 abortion ban, SB 8. Doctors waited 40 hours until they could no longer detect cardiac activity before providing Barnica with basic medical care.

“They had to wait until there was no longer any heartbeat to be heard. It would be a crime to abort her.”

– Barnica's husband

DATE OF DEATH: July 10, 2022

“Yeni” Alvarez-Estrada Glick died as a result of her high-risk pregnancy.

“We were supposed to have her baby shower this weekend. But we didn't have a baby shower. We had a funeral.”

—Lisa Bozeman, the sister of Alvarez-Estrada Glick's boyfriend (Andrew).

“She and Andrew were so young, and if they had the choice, they probably would have thought: We'll spend so much time together that we can have a child later.”

—Dolores Favela, one of Yeni's closest friends

DATE OF DEATH: Oct 29, 2023

Crain, an 18-year-old woman, died from complications of pregnancy. She visited multiple emergency rooms but faced delays in receiving appropriate care.

“Do something.”

–Candace Fails, Crain's mother, hours before she died

DATE OF DEATH: August 19, 2022

Thurman's death was deemed “preventable” by the state Maternal Mortality Review Committee because she did not have access to legal abortion and timely medical care.

“Promise me you’ll take care of my son.”

– Thurman's mother remembers her daughter's last words

DATE OF DEATH: November 12, 2022

Miller died at home with her 3-year-old daughter by her side after her teenage son watched her suffer for days. His mother was afraid to seek the care she needed because she feared being prosecuted under Georgia's ban.

“She was trying to terminate the pregnancy, not herself.”

—Turiya Tomlin-Randall, Miller's sister

DATE OF DEATH: Oct 12, 2023

Wilkinson-Sobieski was newly married and living in Indiana with her husband and young son. She suffered from not having timely access to reproductive health care due to an ectopic pregnancy.

*

Livia Follet assisted with research for this article.

At MS. At our magazine, our mission is to provide facts about the feminist movement (and those who stand in its way) and promote informed discussion – not to tell you who to vote for or what to think. We attach great importance to giving our readers the opportunity to form their own opinions based on reliable reporting. In order to continue to offer you independent feminist journalism, we rely on the generous support of our readers. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today if you value our work and want it to continue. Thank you for supporting women's voices and rights.

Next: