October 5, 1971: Fatal Journey for Arkansas Teen

I believe I have identified "Becky," who was 18 years old when she traveled from Arkansas to New York for a safe and legal abortion. Because the abortion was never publicized I will respect her privacy and continue to use the pseudonym that Life Dynamics gave her.

Grok AI image of Becky riding home to Arkansas

Becky was from a tiny Arkansas town, and a sophomore in college. She must have been academically gifted to be in her second year of college at the age of only 18. She was 14 week pregnant when she made what turned out to be a fatal journey.

The abortion was performed on September 26, 1971. Though Becky was running a fever the day after the abortion, staff discharged her to return home.

By the time Becky got back to Arkansas and saw a doctor, her condition was critical. This doctor admitted her to a hospital where she died from infection on the morning of October 5.

According to Grok, Becky's death certificate list her cause of death as "septicemia secondary to therapeutic abortion," and the contributing factors were "delayed intervention" and "travel post-procedure." 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Abortion facilities totally lose interest in the woman once the fetus is dead. They have no qualms about sending them home to die of known complications. Examples include:

• Lisa Bardsley, who was sent home by Dr. John Biskind with a lacerated uterus.
• Cassandra Bleavins, who was sent home from John Wesley Hospital with her cervix tied off to hide internal bleeding.
• Geneva Colton, who was in so much pain when discharged by Northside Family Planning that her friend stopped on the way home to buy her a pillow.
• Betty Damato, who was weak, in pain, and clutching her abdomen when she was sent home with a trash bag to collect the fetal remains abortionist James Franklin knew he'd left in her uterus. 
• Barbaralee Davis, who was sent home by Dr. Hector Zavalos even though she was pale and weak from a lacerated uterus.
• Shary Graham, who was sent home by Dr. Harvey Johnston with a torn cervix.
• Sharon Hamplton, who was sent home by Dr. Bruce Steir after he'd pulled part of her bowel through a hoke he'd poked in her uterus.
• April Lowery, who was so weak she could barely walk when Dr. Louis T. Payne sent her home.
• Sylvia Moore, who was too weak to walk when Arnold Bickham shoved her out the door of his facility in a wheelchair.
• Jamie Lee Morales, who was sent home by Dr. Rovert Rho even though she was so weak that she had collapsed in the facility bathroom.
• Linda Padfield, who was sent home with 2/3 of her fetus left inside her body by Dr. Benjamin Munson.
• Erica Richardson, who was sent home by Dr. Gene Crawford with a perforated uterus. 
• Latachie Veal, who was discharged by Dr. Robert Crist even though she was bleeding heavily and begging for help.
• Kim Wodicka, who was sent home after what Dr. Edward Graham knew was an incomplete abortion.

Sources: 

• "Maternal Mortality Associated With Legal Abortion in New York State: July 1, 1970," June 30, 1972” Berger, Tietze, Pakter, Katz, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43:3, March 1974, 325
• Obituaries