Sad Anniversary: Twila Coulter

On November 13, 1972, 21-year-old Twila Coulter traveled from her home in Colorado to California for a saline abortion.

Twila was injected with the saline on November 13, then expelled the dead fetus and the placenta the following day. Twila had no blood pressure and was bleeding from IV sites -- signs of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, a clotting disorder. She was given oxygen and three units of blood and transferred to a fully-equipped hospital.

Upon arrival, Twila was comatose and bleeding heavily. Doctors removed some retained pregnancy tissue and sutured numerous uterine injuries, but were unable to address her clotting problems. Twila died of cerebral hemorrhage.

Other women who died of safe-and-legal abortions before Roe include:

• Cassandra Bleavins, 1971
  
• Margaret Davis, 1971
  
• Gwendolyn Drummer, 1972
  
• Janet Forster, 1971
  
• Betty Hines, 1971
  
• Denise Holmes, 1970
  
• Sara Lint, 1970
  
• Natalie Meyers, 1972
  
• Katherine Morse, 1972
  
• Maria Ortega, 1970
  
• Erika Peterson, 1961
  
• "Amanda" Roe, 1970
  
• "Alice" Roe, 1970
  
• "Amy" Roe, 1971
  
• "Annie" Roe, 1971
  
• "Andrea" Roe, 1971
  
• "Anita" Roe, 1971
  
• "April" Roe, 1971
  
• "Audrey" Roe, 1971
  
• "Barbara" Roe, 1971
  
• "Beth" Roe, 1971
  
• "Connie" Roe, 1972
  
• "Danielle" Roe, 1972
  
• "Judy" Roe, 1970
  
• "Julie" Roe, 1972
  
• "Kimberly" Roe, 1970
  
• "Monica" Roe, 1971
  
• "Robin" Roe, 1972
  
• "Roseanne" Roe, 1971
  
• "Roxanne" Roe, 1972
  
• "Sandra" Roe, 1971
  
• "Sheryl" Roe, 1970
  
• "Tammy" Roe, 1971
  
• "Vicki" Roe, 1971
  
• LaSandra Russ, 1971
  
• F.S., 1970
  
• Stella Saenz, 1968
  
• Carole Schaner, 1971
  
• Margaret Smith, 1971
  
• Kathryn Strong, 1972
  
• Cheryl Vosseler, 1969