Kate Cox was denied the right to an abortion in Texas in December, which forced her to travel to New Mexico to undergo the procedure. This decision was made after she discovered that her baby had a life-threatening genetic condition.
The doctor cautioned her that proceeding with the pregnancy could potentially impact her future ability to conceive.
“I owe my pregnancy to the availability of abortion care,” she shared, her voice quivering with emotion as she spoke about the difficult choice she had to make from the comfort of her Dallas residence.”
Cox gained national attention for her legal battle to obtain an abortion in Texas following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the nationwide right to the procedure.
After the court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right, several U.S. states implemented stringent abortion laws.
Democrats view access to abortion as a winning issue in the upcoming November election, and Harris has placed it at the forefront of her campaign. On the other hand, her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, has expressed his belief that abortion laws should be determined by individual states, avoiding a national abortion ban that could potentially alienate swing voters.
Cox was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago by the Harris campaign.
Cox emphasized the importance of voting by stating, “We will vote like our lives depend on it because for so many, it does.”
Anti-abortion groups, such as the Texas Alliance for Life, have voiced opposition to Cox’s decision to have an abortion. According to them, every life holds value, irrespective of any diagnosis that may limit or be fatal to the individual. Their stance emphasizes the importance of providing support and resources to families who find themselves in difficult situations due to such diagnoses.
In August 2023, her journey towards obtaining a Texas abortion commenced when she and her husband discovered that they were expecting their third child, whom they named Chloe Jones Cox. Sadly, their baby tested positive for Trisomy 18, a chromosomal abnormality that results in severe cognitive disability and affects almost every organ system in the body.
According to Boston Children’s Hospital, babies afflicted with the disorder typically do not survive beyond the age of one.
Cox had previously undergone two C-sections for her previous births. If she were to deliver the baby herself, it would have necessitated a third C-section. Having another child would have meant a fourth C-section, which poses significant health risks, according to Karsan.
In December, Cox took legal action against the state of Texas in order to secure an abortion as a medical exemption, which is prohibited by Texas law in most cases.
The decision made by a district court judge in her favor was later overturned by the Texas Supreme Court.
