When a 27 year old single mother from Texas, Ahjonae, finds out she’s pregnant, she searches for abortion care providers across the U.S. to terminate her pregnancy. This is not an easy undertaking as Ahjonae works two full-time jobs, including a hotel graveyard shift, to keep up with the rent and bills. A practicing Christian, she gets the last spot at a Dallas-based travel program run by a local church. This program, organized and funded by a partnership between The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, shepherds people to New Mexico to receive abortion care. Despite her hesitancy to trust the volunteers, she takes a sick day from work, and her mother flies to Dallas to watch her three young children, so that Ahjonae can take the journey to Albuquerque.
Special thanks to the Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas, TX, Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, NM; Dr. Curtis Boyd and Dr. Glenna Halvorson-Boyd; Reverend Daniel Kanter and The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Rev Erin Walter, Rev Deneen Robinson, and all the incredible travel program volunteers. Also, thanks to Joan Lamunyon and the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, and Planned Parenthood; And to Ahjonae, her family, and all those who shared their stories with us.
Some names have been changed to protect identities. Since this episode was recorded, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The changing legal landscape in Texas means that some groups in Texas are changing or pausing their operations. Specifically, The Southwest Surgery center in Dallas has been forced to stop providing abortion services until further notice. The clinic will remain open to offer other reproductive healthcare. Also, note that the doctor in this episode uses the abortion pill brand name Mifeprex and later refers to it by the generic name Mifepristone. They are the same drug. If you have questions about about abortion pills, go to
https://www.abortionfinder.org/abortion-types/pill.
This podcast was brought to you by Population Media Center. Executive producers are Lisa Caruso and Alex Demyanenko, with co-producer Kathleen Bedoya and associate producer Dominica Ruelas. This episode was field produced by Joanna Friedman with production services provided by Red Cup Agency and story producing by Olivia Aylmer. Research assistance was provided by Sarah Field Bullion and production coordinating by June Neely. Impact strategy was led by Charity Tooze. Narration by Tatiana St. Phard. Music by Val Ortiz.
