In a heartbreaking turn of events, K Monica Kelly, a woman from Tennessee, has joined a lawsuit after being denied a medically necessary abortion. Kelly and her husband had been trying to conceive for a year, and their joy at discovering the pregnancy quickly turned into despair as they received devastating news about their fetus.

Kelly's fetus was diagnosed with trisomy 13, a chromosomal disorder with severe complications. Large growths on the neck and back, along with elevated swelling in the tissues and organs, indicated a grim future for the unborn child. The condition also affected the brain's development, potentially leading to facial deformities and other debilitating effects.

Knowing the challenges they faced, Kelly made the compassionate choice to seek an abortion. However, Tennessee's strict abortion ban left her with no legal options in her home state. Desperate for the necessary healthcare, Kelly considered traveling to Illinois, known as an "abortion haven" since the fall of Roe v Wade. Yet, she was hesitant to undergo such a personal procedure in an unfamiliar place.

Finally, Kelly managed to secure an appointment with an OB-GYN she trusted at a Florida hospital. However, the clock was ticking as Florida also imposed restrictions, banning abortions past 15 weeks of pregnancy. Kelly and her husband made the arduous journey, bringing their toddler with them, and in Florida, they navigated a mandatory in-person counseling session and a 24-hour waiting period.

After enduring a stressful and costly trip, Kelly underwent the abortion procedure on March 31, 2023, just before reaching Florida's legal limit. Her experience led her to connect with other women who were denied medically necessary abortions, and she joined a lawsuit alongside them. The lawsuit targets Tennessee's strict abortion ban and the narrow exceptions carved out in the law.

Sadly, Kelly's ordeal is not unique. Since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, more than a dozen states have implemented near-total abortion bans. While these bans claim to have exceptions for medical emergencies, doctors and patients have found the wording to be unworkable and restrictive. The fear of facing fines and even prison time has led many providers to deny medically necessary abortions.

The fallout from these abortion bans is devastating. Stories from across the country have surfaced, detailing how women are being denied the crucial healthcare they desperately need. Kelly's experience, coupled with the stories of the other women involved in the lawsuit, shines a light on the urgent need for comprehensive reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortions.

As Tennessee faces scrutiny over its abortion ban, legal representatives from the Center for Reproductive Rights are requesting a temporary injunction to allow doctors to use their "good faith medical judgment" in performing abortions for critical or emergent physical medical conditions.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit in Texas is currently being deliberated by the state supreme court, while a similar case in Idaho is ongoing. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for reproductive rights across the nation.

For now, Kelly remains hopeful in her fight, aiming to make a difference for women's rights. Her pregnancy journey continues, fraught with anxiety and the fear of facing similar obstacles in Tennessee. As she awaits the birth of her child in June 2024, Kelly stands as a testament to the urgent need for comprehensive reproductive healthcare that respects and protects a woman's right to make choices about her own body and future.