Georgia Mom Was Hemorrhaging but Couldn't Get Life-Saving Care Due to State Abortion Ban: ‘I Wanted to Live’

Mar. 15, 2025

Avery Davis Bell.Photo:USA TODAY/YouTube

USA TODAY/YouTube

A Georgia mother nearly lost her life and is dealing with lasting health problems after state laws delayed her from getting an abortion.

Bell was put on bed rest as she dealt with a lot of bleeding and underwent testing every two weeks to ensure she remained stable. However, on October 17, Bell was hospitalized as the hemorrhaging worsened and she developed anemia. Doctors also told her that her water broke prematurely and she was at a very high risk for infection.

Avery Davis Bell.USA TODAY/YouTube

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Bell’s doctors told her that this was the best course of action “because they could control the bleeding and keep me alive.”

Because of Georgia’s abortion ban, medical staff was unable to perform the procedure because Bell’s heavy bleeding was not considered emergent enough to forgo Georgia’s mandated 24-hour waiting period.

Georgia enacted a ban on abortion after six weeks gestation following the2022 overturn ofRoe v. Wade.According to law, “no abortion shall be performed if the unborn child has a detectable human heartbeat except (a) in the event of a medical emergency or medically futile pregnancy.”

In the state, “medical emergency” is defined as “a condition in which an abortion is necessary in order to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.”

Additionally, in order to receive an abortion, patients are subjected to a mandatory 24-hour waiting period and must receive a consultation at least 24 hours before the procedure.

“They were trying to get that paperwork signed so they could start the clock,” Bell recalled. “If my life is definitely at risk, they could do it. But where that line is is a little hard and my doctors, rightly, they don’t really want to wait until you’re definitely dying to save you. And this isn’t a choice they should have to have.”

“They should have said whatever is the safest thing, let’s start it now. And they couldn’t do that," she added.

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As they waited, Bell’s condition continued to decline and her hemoglobin levels dropped so low that she was nearing the point where a transfusion was necessary. With her life now in danger, she was able to get the abortion moved up.

During the procedure, Bell’s health was so bad that she still required a blood transfusion. She has also had two iron infusions since. The mom said that doctors told her it may take six months for her body to recover and get back to baseline.

Although she’s happy medical staff were ultimately able to save her life, Bell admitted that she’s “furious that it was harder than it needed to be for me.”

“Women in America are dying, their children are losing their mothers because of some non-scientific, non-rights based legal rhetoric,” she said.

source: people.com