Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


AP: Women Facing Restrictions Seek Abortions Out of State

Associated Press

   ATLANTA - At a routine ultrasound when she was five months pregnant,
   Hevan Lunsford began to panic when the technician took longer than
   normal, then told her she would need to see a specialist.

   Lunsford, a nurse in Alabama, knew it was serious and begged for an
   appointment the next day.

   That's when the doctor gave her and her husband the heart-wrenching
   news: The baby boy they decided to name Sebastian was severely
   underdeveloped and had only half a heart. If he survived, he would need
   care to ease his pain and several surgeries. He may not live long.

   Lunsford, devastated, asked the doctor about ending the pregnancy.

   ``I felt the only way to guarantee that he would not have any suffering
   was to go through with the abortion,'' she said of that painful
   decision nearly three years ago.

.