Amanda Zurawski, who is currently suing Texas, informed NBC News that she narrowly escaped death due to a delayed medically necessary abortion. Hence, she and her husband, Josh, plan to relocate their frozen embryos out of Texas. They cited concerns that the state might stop in vitro fertilization services as their reason for the move.
Also, reports indicating that three fertility clinics in Alabama temporarily stopped in vitro fertilization hastened their decision. According to court documents, the pause was the state Supreme Court ruling asserting that embryos possess the same legal protection as children.
On Thursday, February 22, Zurawski disclosed that she and her husband took steps to relocate their embryos from Texas. With the state obstructing their efforts to build a family, the couple opted to move their embryos to a state with better reproduction laws.
Zurawski stated, “I don’t want them in a state where a similar ruling could very likely take place. Everything about IVF is very anxiety-inducing. It’s very scary and challenging. Rulings like this one in Alabama are just adding another layer of fear and anxiety.”
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In addition, she emphasized the broader impact of the ruling on patients in Alabama. She said, “My heart is broken for every hopeful parent of Alabama. This isn’t going to stop. It will have a snowball effect.”
Notably, Zurawski is one of the principal plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Recounting her experience, she disclosed that in August 2022, she faced life-threatening complications while 18 weeks pregnant.
Initially, doctors refused to provide an abortion; however, as her health deteriorated, they performed the abortion. After the procedure, she suffered severe infections leading to sepsis, requiring a three-day stay in the intensive care unit.
Subsequently, Zurawski and Josh chose IVF as an alternative, aiming to have their baby through surrogacy. Notably, Zurawski has undergone three egg retrievals and has two frozen embryos. However, the Texas laws could again interfere with her journey toward motherhood.
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Zurawski expressed distress, saying, “It’s absolutely terrifying. But it’s also infuriating because the same people who support the bans are also in the same camp. Trying to make it harder for people like me to have a family.”
When questioned about the concerns of families with frozen embryos in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott evaded a direct response. However, on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Abbott stated, “You raise questions that are complex that I simply don’t know the answer to.”
While supporting IVF, Abbott emphasized finding a pathway to ensure parents who lack the opportunity can access the IVF process. However, he noted “some uncertainty lingering” from the Alabama Supreme Court ruling.
Following the ruling, Zurawski researched other clinics outside of Texas willing to accept her embryos. Furthermore, she researched companies that could facilitate their transportation. She highlighted the considerable financial burden of this process, costing thousands of dollars.
Zurawski did not disclose the destination for the relocation of her embryos. She stated, “It’s to protect us.” Moreover, she explained that the decision to keep the information private was to protect their embryos and anyone associated with the planning process.
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