“She was told her twin sons wouldn’t survive. Texas law made her give birth anyway.”

For months, the Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff followed the life of a young East Texas mother who, due to strict state laws and financial constraints, could not terminate a pregnancy with twins destined not to survive.

Klibanoff formed a relationship with family members as they lived their day-to-day lives and worked to come to terms with the pregnancy. She was there to cover the emotions of a young mother struggling to decide what was best for her family. She was at the hospital where the mother gave birth to conjoined twins who passed away shortly after birth. And finally, Klibanoff was present at the poignant funeral. 

Klibanoff built trust with the mother and her community. She navigated the stigma and grief surrounding this intimate story with sensitivity and patience. The mother’s story resonated deeply with readers, who responded by donating to a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her hospital expenses. 

Klibanoff’s work is a poignant-yet-heartbreaking piece on the realities that mothers and families face in a post-Roe v. Wade world. It also shows the vital role of compassionate journalism in illuminating overlooked narratives and fostering community support.

Article by: Abbi Ross