Two women who have personally experienced the complications of abortion restrictions are now advocating for President Joe Biden in crucial swing states. Amanda Zurawski and Kaitlyn Joshua are traveling to North Carolina and Wisconsin to share their stories with doctors, local officials, and voters. The Biden campaign sees their firsthand accounts as powerful examples of the dangers many women face due to abortion restrictions pushed by Republicans.
Kaitlyn Joshua, a 31-year-old woman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, acknowledges that the topic of abortion is heavy but believes that the Biden and Harris administration is the only one that can address the abortion bans and take a deeper dive into research and understanding women’s health. Biden and Democrats view reproductive health as a significant factor in the upcoming 2024 election. They blame former President Donald Trump, whose judicial nominations led to the Supreme Court’s conservative majority decision in 2022, overturning the abortion rights established by Roe v. Wade.
This week, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could have significant impacts on women’s reproductive healthcare. Republicans, including Trump, are struggling to find a way to address the issue, with Trump taking credit for overturning Roe while also suggesting that abortion should be legal until 15 weeks. He has promised to outline his policies on this matter soon. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, voters have approved several statewide ballot initiatives to protect or expand abortion rights. The support for abortion access mobilized women during the 2022 midterm elections and contributed to unexpected success for Democrats.
According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about two-thirds of Americans believe that abortion should be legal. Only one-quarter believe that it should always be legal, and just 1 in 10 think it should always be illegal.
Kaitlyn Joshua and her husband were excited about their second baby but encountered complications during her pregnancy. Despite experiencing bleeding and severe pain at around 11 weeks, doctors at an emergency room in Baton Rouge wouldn’t confirm if she was miscarrying or discuss her medical options. She was sent home to wait. The bleeding worsened, and she sought help from a second hospital, where she faced a similar response. Eventually, a midwife confirmed that Joshua had miscarried. She expresses her concern about how even something as seemingly simple as dealing with a miscarriage cannot be met with a proper diagnosis anymore, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues.
Both Joshua and Zurawski, who will be visiting North Carolina and Wisconsin, respectively, felt compelled to get involved in politics after their own traumatic experiences. Zurawski, 37, from Austin, Texas, sued the state last year after being denied medical care due to abortion laws. She went into early labor during her second trimester and was told her baby would not survive. Despite her desperate need for an abortion, doctors couldn’t intervene because Zurawski wasn’t in enough medical danger. She had to wait. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she developed sepsis. After stabilizing briefly, she delivered a stillborn girl named Willow and spent days in intensive care.
Zurawski’s story has taken her on an unexpected journey. She recently returned from a family trip to Disney World and reflected on how she had expected to come home with a one-year-old instead of campaigning for Biden. Nevertheless, she believes that sharing her story and spreading awareness is crucial.
The impact of these women’s stories is significant, shedding light on the consequences of abortion restrictions and the urgent need for reproductive health rights. As they continue to campaign and share their experiences, they hope to make a difference in the fight for women’s rights and comprehensive healthcare.
(Note: The magazine-style article has been written based on the information provided in the text. It does not reflect personal opinions or biases.)
