In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, many people have been telling the stories of women in the United States suffering the consequences of this decision. Although recently, the storytelling has taken a local turn when a Texas 18-year-old by the name of Neveah Crain was denied care for an illness due to a miscarriage she endured during her baby shower in 2023.
Reports state that Crain developed sepsis, an abnormal reaction to infection, following her miscarriage in the later months of 2023. On October 29, 2023, Crain was experiencing a fever and vomiting, as well as being too ¨weak and unable to walk.” Through the pain and fear, Crain visited two different emergency rooms in hopes of a way to alleviate the agony.
The first hospital diagnosed Crain with sepsis, however they did not investigate her ongoing abdominal cramps. Further, the second emergency room also confirmed the presence of sepsis and performed an abdominal screening. The doctors then told Crain her six-month-old fetus had a heartbeat, and she was, therefore, ¨fine to leave.” Crain continued her search for aid by going to a third, and final, emergency room.
Unfortunately, by the time she had reached the third emergency room, she was too late. As doctors finally seemed to take her case more seriously, her heart rate plummeted as her organs were failing. Doctors noted her lips and body began to go pale and she soon died.
This is the reality since Roe v. Wade as hospitals now bounce around to different hospitals pregnant patients in desperate need of help in hopes of not being caught up with a prosecutor.
The story of Neveah Crain was one of many, however, it seems to hit more closely to home as Texas residents are realizing that such stories happen in their own backyards, leaving many with feelings ranging from fury to terror for many women’s lives. Could this possibly pave the way for change in the country?
