Advocacy with Jen Adkins

Friends, this episode of the Open That Door podcast is PACKED! This is my longest interview to date with the beautiful, smart, savvy, heart-led Jennifer Adkins, an executive director in the animal advocacy world and an "accidental advocate" for women's healthcare rights.

During Jen and her husband John's second pregnancy, a routine 12-week wellness checkup revealed that their unborn child had Turner Syndrome and would not make it. In the state of Idaho, where Jen and I both live, the 6-week abortion ban prevents any medical practitioner to give care for or even advice about an abortion after the first six weeks beyond telling their patients—as they did in Jen's case—that they either can wait to miscarry or are free to explore other healthcare options out of state.

Jen and her husband consider themselves lucky that they had the resources to travel to a neighboring state to receive the abortion she required, since Jen did not miscarry, and feel blessed that her compromised pregnancy did not create life-threatening issues for Jen.

However, being the heart-led advocate that Jen is, she immediately sprung into action on behalf of those with fewer resources than her, and sued the state of Idaho. Her joint suit is pending and seeks to add clarifying language around what a healthcare provider can and cannot do to help a pregnant woman in need.

You can see Jen and John featured on the Emmy-winning documentary IMPACT x Nightline: On the Brink with Diane Sawyer and Rachel Scott here: https://www.hulu.com/series/impact-x-nightline-on-the-brink-6908932d-1ba7-46ec-84d9-499cfcdf8e28

WARNING: This episode contains conversations about non-viable pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, and adoption, which could be triggering for some. I am not a medical care provider and nothing in this episode is intended to be medical advice. Please speak to your own health care provider with any questions or concerns you have about your health and well-being and your healthcare choices.

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