This story first appeared in Cardinal & Pine
Faced with threats and persistent harassment, Calla Hales remains committed to providing abortion care in the Southern United States. As the CEO of A Preferred Women’s Health Centers, Hales oversees clinics in North Carolina and Georgia. Despite the challenges, she continues her mission to offer essential services to women.
Challenges in Abortion Care
Since 1973, violent attacks on abortion providers have resulted in the deaths of 11 practitioners and injuries to 26 others in the US and Canada. Despite these threats, which have included snipers targeting physicians, Calla Hales remains resolute in her commitment.
Personal Experiences Shaping Advocacy
Calla Hales’ advocacy is deeply influenced by her own experiences with pregnancy complications. She suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, leading to severe nausea and vomiting during her pregnancies, and experienced significant health challenges post-childbirth.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hales faced a difficult recovery from internal bleeding due to a blood shortage. These personal health challenges have only strengthened her pro-choice stance, highlighting the dangers and complexities of childbirth.
Maternal Health Concerns
The US has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with significant disparities affecting Black women. Such statistics underscore the importance of reproductive choice and access to safe abortion services.
Calla Hales emphasizes that abortion procedures are statistically safer than many common medical procedures, with only 0.7 abortion-related deaths per 100,000 in the US.
Legacy and Mission
Calla’s parents were motivated to open their first clinic in 1998 after a family friend tragically took her own life following the inability to obtain an abortion. Her father, a surgeon, combined his medical expertise with a commitment to community health, establishing clinics that Hales now leads.
Growing up with parents who owned abortion clinics, Hales learned early on the importance of security and discretion, shaping her understanding of the challenges faced by providers and patients alike.
Community Impact and Advocacy
Working at the clinics has offered Calla Hales a sense of purpose. She witnesses firsthand the struggles many patients face, such as financial difficulties and the stigma surrounding abortion. Her clinics also connect patients with resources for travel and accommodation, especially from states with strict abortion bans.
Hales has seen a significant increase in patients traveling from states with restrictive laws following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Despite the challenges, her clinics remain operational, providing crucial services to those in need.
Adapting to Legal Changes
The aftermath of the Dobbs decision has necessitated rapid adaptation. In North Carolina, clinics adhere to a 12-week abortion ban and a 72-hour waiting period. Georgia clinics provide medication abortions up to six weeks of pregnancy.
Despite facing opposition, including protests and legislative challenges, Hales is committed to maintaining services, emphasizing the resilience and strength of abortion providers.
Personal Safety and Commitment
Hales remains vigilant about her safety, mindful of the risks associated with her work. Yet, her dedication to her role as CEO of the clinics is unwavering, driven by a commitment to patient care and advocacy.
Her experiences have deepened her understanding of social inequalities and reinforced her resolve to provide essential health services, regardless of political and social challenges.
