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Reproductive Rights Podcast
Texas Parents Ashley & Marcus: Forced Across State Lines for Abortion Care (with AIA) – My Body. My Pod. Episode 23
Ashley and Marcus Brandt share how Texas' abortion ban forced them to leave the state for care after a fatal fetal diagnosis.
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When Ashley and Marcus Brandt learned they were expecting twins, they imagined their family finally feeling complete. Just weeks later, everything changed.
During a routine ultrasound, one of the twins was diagnosed with a fatal condition. Because of Texas’ abortion ban, their doctors couldn’t provide the medical care they needed. The family traveled to Colorado for a procedure that protected Ashley from life-threatening complications and saved their surviving twin.
In this special collaboration with Abortion in America, Mini Timmaraju sits down with Ashley and Marcus to hear their story. Together, they discuss how abortion bans delay critical medical care, and undermine the ability of patients and doctors to make the best decisions together.
Key Takeaways in this Episode
- Texas parents Ashley and Marcus Brandt were expecting twins when they received a fatal fetal diagnosis.
- Texas' abortion ban prevented doctors from providing the medically recommended care they needed.
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- The family fled to Colorado for a procedure that protected Ashley from life-saving complications and saved their surviving twin.
- Their story illustrates how abortion bans delay medical care, interfere with pregnancy care, and force families to make impossible decisions.
- Personal stories help expose the real-world consequences of abortion restrictions and why protecting reproductive freedom matters.
🔍 Closer Look: The Harms Caused by Abortion Bans
“I felt like a reproductive refugee,” says Ashley.
The Brandts’ experience reflects a growing reality across the country. Since Dobbs, abortion bans have created new barriers to essential health care—forcing patients to travel, delaying treatment, increasing costs, and putting lives at risk.
Here’s what the data shows:
Abortion bans have led to preventable deaths, traumatic injuries, rising maternal and infant mortality rates, and reduced access to reproductive health care.
Access to abortion care often means traveling hundreds of miles and paying thousands out of pocket.
- 1 in 5 patients now travel out of state for abortion (that’s 2x what it was before Roe fell).
- In the South, some people must travel up to 700 miles for care.
- And since more than half of all Black Americans live in the South, Black women are disproportionately harmed—with state abortion bans impacting 57% of all Black women of reproductive age.
- Abortion care itself can cost $500—$1,000, before accounting for travel, childcare, and lost wages.
- For over 40% of abortion seekers, these costs can be financially devastating.
- Most people pay entirely out of pocket, since many insurance plans don’t cover abortion.
Stay Connected with Abortion in America
This episode was recorded live during Abortion in America’s storyteller convening, where people from across the country gathered to share their experiences navigating abortion bans and pregnancy complications.
Abortion in America is a storytelling initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of people directly impacted by abortion bans. Visit Abortion in America and follow on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to learn more.
🛬 The Big Picture: 8 in 10 Americans Support Abortion
“My daughter has less rights now than her grandmother did. It’s unacceptable.” —Ashley Brandt
Ashley and Marcus’ story is one of thousands showing how abortion bans affect real people and real families.
While Trump, Republicans, and their anti-abortion allies continue restricting care, eight in 10 Americans believe in the legal right to abortion. Protecting reproductive freedom means ensuring everybody can get the care they need—without political interference.
Explore meaningful ways you can take action now in today’s fight for reproductive freedom.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
MY BODY. MY POD. WITH MINI TIMMARAJU.
The fight for reproductive freedom is more urgent than ever.
That’s why we’re bringing you My Body. My Pod. with Mini Timmaraju, a reproductive freedom podcast.
If you’re into building a nationwide movement to protect and expand health justice, reproductive equity, and the power of people to control their own lives, this show is for you.
Hear from leaders and changemakers who share wisdom from the front lines, stories of the real struggles people are facing every day, and a vision for the future we’re determined to win.
Hosted by Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All. Available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
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