Several community members shared their personal stories about reproductive health care decisions with The Lawrence Times ahead of the Aug. 2, 2022 vote on a state constitutional amendment that would have cleared the way for politicians in the Kansas Legislature to ban abortions.
Kansas voters elected to keep protection for abortion in the state constitution by a nearly 60-40 margin. Read more about that at this link.
The stories:
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
‘Incompatible with life’ diagnosis, Kansas abortion laws led Lawrence mom to seek health care outside state
In May 2017, Kayla Deere thought she had passed the halfway point of her pregnancy when abnormal sonogram findings alerted her doctor to complications.
If the baby survived birth, he might only live for seconds, minutes, hours, a day. And he would experience trauma.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Access to emergency treatment saved Lawrence mom’s life and enabled her to have three more children
In early 2009, Sarah Smith wanted to be pregnant — but she had two pregnancies that could have been fatal for her. Life-saving health care enabled her to have three more children.
Iris Cliff/Lawrence Times
Lawrence women reflect on their reasons for ending their pregnancies
Two Lawrence women who faced unintended pregnancies in their 30s — one in a thriving, long-term marriage and the other in the midst of a toxic and abusive relationship — shared their personal accounts of ending their pregnancies by abortion.
Contributed Photo
Topeka woman reflects on traumatic experiences and choosing her own path through her reproductive journey
Though she chose to give birth after both of her pregnancies, Joe Cheray valued her ability to make those decisions in her reproductive health journey, especially since her bodily autonomy has been stolen by men starting at an early age and throughout her life.
Lawrence mother reflects on joy in choice to end a pregnancy to center her daughter and herself
Before she got an abortion last year, Bulaong Ramiz said she never saw herself as someone who would do so. But when the time came, she chose herself and her then-2-year-old daughter who needed her.
Video: How they’re voting on Aug. 2
Proponents call it the “Value them Both” amendment. These women would dispute that characterization. And much misinformation has swirled around the amendment ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Legal scholar and KU professor hopes her students never lose the right to abortion that she had
If she hadn’t received an abortion at age 19, Sarah Deer said she would not have become the person she is today. She has reached great heights of success as a legal scholar, advocate and more.
More about the issue and the amendment:
Who’s getting abortions in Kansas? Plus more FAQs ahead of the Aug. 2 vote
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, voters statewide will decide on an issue that could permanently change Kansans’ health care rights.
Who’s getting abortions in Kansas? Here are some stats, plus answers to some FAQs about the amendment vote and what it means.
Resources:
• Kansas Abortion Fund
• Planned Parenthood Great Plains
• Abortion (medication & in-clinic) in Overland Park (Planned Parenthood)
• Center for Women’s Health in Overland Park
• Find an abortion provider (nationwide)
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