Kristen Anaya, from Frisco, experienced severe health complications during pregnancy, including developing sepsis, due to delayed medical intervention caused by restrictive Texas law. After two rounds of IVF, Kristen and her husband, Stephen were elated to learn in January 2023 that Kristen was pregnant. However, at 16.5 weeks, Kristen’s water broke. Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors delivered the devastating news that the couple’s baby girl Tylee would not survive due to the loss of amniotic fluid. At this time, Kristen began having rigors (uncontrollable shaking), constant vomiting, and a spiked fever, early signs of a serious infection that could only be treated by ending the pregnancy. Despite her critical condition, doctors could not immediately induce labor because the fetus still had a heartbeat, highlighting the legal constraints that jeopardize patient health. Over the next 22 hours, Kristen had to wait until her vitals reached severe enough levels to showcase her life was in danger, finally meeting the threshold to receive hospital administration approval for a medical induction abortion. Stephen watched in horror, terrified he would lose his wife just after losing his daughter. Following the procedure, Kristen spent five days recovering in the hospital from sepsis and continues to have long term pain and health complications.
Kristen and Stephen still want to have children, possibly with the help of a surrogate, but fear the risk of anyone becoming pregnant in Texas under current law.