SPOTLIGHT RACE: Allie Phillips for TN-HD75
I am a Tennessee native, raised in Ashland City and graduated from high school in Hermitage. I received my bachelors from MTSU and now, I call Clarksville, TN my home.
At the age of 22, I became a single mother. I worked three jobs while attending school full-time to ensure that my daughter Adalie was taken care of. Three years after she was born, my husband Bryan came into our lives and made our family complete.
Then, in November of 2022, Bryan and I learned that I was pregnant. We were elated and immediately began to plan. Unfortunately, during my routine anatomy scan at 19 weeks pregnant, we were informed that our daughter, Miley Rose, was not compatible with life.
After discussing every possible alternative with our doctor, we decided that termination was the best option for us. Unfortunately, the state of Tennessee had implemented a state-wide abortion ban in August of 2022 which made it impossible. I was fortunate to find a clinic in NYC that offered mid-term abortions and, a week and three days later, I arrived at the clinic. Shortly after arriving, I learned that our daughter, Miley Rose, was already gone. Her heart had stopped beating at some point in the last week.
With a risk of sepsis, blood clots, or more, I underwent an emergency abortion. I did this alone: in a city I had never been to before, without my family or my husband there by my side.
I’m running because I was denied the right to basic healthcare.
I’m running because I don’t want any other family to experience the pain my family did.
I’m running because my daughter deserves a right to a high quality education in our public schools.
I’m running because I shouldn’t fear sending my child to school with the possibility of her not coming back home.
I’m running because my LGBT neighbors deserve to love and be loved without consequence.
I’m running because I care about my community and the people in my state.
https://www.allie4tn.com/