35 Calls Per Night, and Climbing-- July 2011

I picked up a hotline shift for the first time in a while and I was shocked at the 35 messages left in 1 day! Message after message, usually a calm but plaintive voice beseechingly requested assistance. Places, names, situations all varied but all were in the same predicament-- struggling financially with little or no extra money. I prioritized the clients that were further along or approaching a price change in their abortion price. The one story that really touched me was of a woman that had recently immigrated to the US when her and her husband found via amniocentesis that their baby had genetic defects. Already struggling to support their existing family through her partner's job driving a taxi, they knew having another child with serious medical needs would stress their family and finances beyond what would be capable. Lilith was able to help this family.

And thanks to State Senate Bill 7, an included provision will be cutting off the use of local tax dollars to fund elective abortions (thank you Representative Wayne Christian of Nacogdoches). Of course, the only place in Texas where this funding is occurring is in Travis County, where patients of the county-established indigent healthcare system can obtain an elective termination of a first trimester pregnancy with a $25 copay.

At the last Central Health Board Meeting, this matter was discussed in a closed portion of the meeting.

So 40, 45 calls per night soon? The need is overwhelming...