Geoff: When my next guest,
Marlena stell, suffered a
miscarriage late last year, she
says she begged her doctor for
help but instead was forced to
live for at least two weeks with
fetal remains inside her because
of strict anti-abortion laws.
She says she was devastated to
learn that because the procedure
she needed is also used during
abortions -- which a Texas law
restricted -- her doctor refused
to perform it.
Her story is an excruciating
reality that could become more
common after the overturning of
roe V. Wade.
Marlena stell joins us now.
I appreciate your willingness to
share your story.
Marlena: Thanks for your time.
I appreciate the chance to
speak.
Geoff: You and your husband have
a two year old.
As I understand it, you were
thrilled to learn of your
pregnancy.
At seven weeks you got an
ultrasound, showed that
everything with your baby was
normal.
And then tell us what happened.
Marlena: I found out -- I had my
first ultrasound early September
and everything looked great.
I was about seven and a half
weeks.
Couple of weeks later, I asked
for another ultrasound because I
am a high risk mom.
I'm a bit older at 42 now, and I
came in a couple of weeks later
and the baby was not viable.
It was not a viable pregnancy.
And I was devastated because
this is obviously a baby that my
husband had been trying for.
We want a sibling for my
daughter.
And as soon as I found out the
news, I asked for a D and C
because I had a miscarriage in
the past.
Before I had my daughter, I
wasn't able to expel and so I
had a D and C back then and it
went well and I was able to have
my daughter after that.
So I figured it would be the
same this time.
Having a D and C I thought
wouldn't be a problem because it
was very obvious from the
ultrasound that the pregnancy
was no longer -- there was no
longer a fetus or baby in there.
So the doctor had told me no.
And before she could even give
me any intervention at all, I
had to go to get another
ultrasound at another place.
And so that's what I did as I
called around and got an
ultrasound somewhere else and
came back to the doctor.
Was still told no.
Eventually was given the pill as
an option, and I personally felt
unsafe doing that because I knew
my past history of not being
able to expel.
I didn't want to be at home
alone.
I felt safer being in a
hospital.
That was the best option for me
personally with my past
experiences.
Geoff: And the doctor who told
you no, did she say explicitly
that it was because of the Texas
abortion law?
Marlena: She had said when I
first asked for a D and C that
she could not do anything for me
because of the heartbeat bill
until I went and got proof or
extra ultrasound somewhere else
and then came back to her with
that second ultrasound results.
Geoff: The process of having to
go from doctor to doctor and
getting multiple ultrasounds,
what was that like for you?
Marlena: I was trying to call
around multiple places to see
who could get me in the fastest,
because once I knew that I
miscarried, I knew that I didn't
want to be walking around.
I wanted to get this taken care
of medically so I was able to
heal and move on and try again.
I had to call multiple places
myself.
After several calls, I finally
got in three days later, and
then that took a couple of days
to get the results back to my
doctor before she could get back
to me, so it was multiple days
of just trying to go get another
ultrasound, wait for them to
send it to my doctor, wait for
her to see them and then get
back to me.
Geoff: You have said that over
that time, that doctors and
anti-abortion protesters who you
encountered as you were going to
some of these clinics, that they
made you feel like you did
something wrong.
Tell me more about that.
Marlena: So I eventually,
because I was denied a D and C,
ended up going to an abortion
clinic downtown, I was
absolutely desperate this point.
We didn't know if we should fly
to another state or try
somewhere else.
So I called a clinic, got in,
and as I was dropped off, my
husband wasn't allowed to come
in with me.
I had to be escorted in by a
host at the clinic.
And as I was going in, there was
people protesting outside
telling me I was a baby killer.
They had signs telling me I
didn't have to do this.
So for someone like me who
wanted that baby, that's
devastating to hear when they
don't know what you're going
through or why you're there.
Geoff: Marlena, I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry you had to deal with
that.
How are you now?
How how are you and your
husband?
How is your family?
How are you all holding up?
Marlena: We're doing okay.
We've had to make a decision on
whether to try again.
We've had hard conversations of
whether to stay in Texas or move
out to be able to try again.
While we live here, we just made
the decision that we don't feel
safe -- for my safety -- of
trying again here, just because
of our experience.
And we're just worried that
something may happen if I don't
care -- get care in time.
We have to consider me being
here for my two year old
daughter that I do have.
Geoff: Why are you sharing your
story?
I mean, I think you could be
forgiven if this was something
that you kept to yourself and
didn't share with the American
public, why do you feel
compelled to let people know
what you experienced?
Marlena: I think when it first
happened, I was just so shocked.
I couldn't believe that I was
having such a difficult time
getting care that in the past I
had no problem.
So I want to share that story
because I honestly, I want to
know if there's other women
going through that.
And if so, I wanted them to know
that they weren't alone.
And I wanted to bring attention
to this so that people know that
people like me who want children
are getting affected.
It's not just a certain group of
women.
It's all women who are pregnant.
I just wanted more awareness for
it, honestly.
Geoff: How has this experience
changed you?
Marlena: I'm a bit more
skeptical now and obviously
emotional.
Still trying to heal from all of
that.
I just -- I'm in shock.
Honestly, I don't know what else
to say other than I don't
understand how this is
happening.
And it makes me sad to see many
stories of other women who are
going through being denied care
too.
I just feel that it's not right.
Geoff: Marlena stell, I
appreciate your willingness to
join us and my best to you and
your family.
Marlena: Thank you so much.