Amanda Zurawski, an Austin woman who was denied an abortion due to Texas laws, instead had a miscarriage after experiencing sepsis.

At 18 weeks, she was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix — meaning the base of her uterus was opening prematurely, so the fetus would soon come out or an infection could take hold. But because the fetus had a faint heartbeat, the law prevented doctors from terminating the pregnancy.

Zurawski experienced a raging fever. Dangerously low blood pressure. Rapidly spreading bacterial infection, sending her body into sepsis. Doctors induced the miscarriage and she spent three days in the ICU.

Today, Zurawski and four women and two doctors have filed a lawsuit against Texas, seeking to clarify the medical emergency exceptions under the state’s six week abortion ban.

During the Senate hearing, she pointed to policies supported by Ted Cruz and John Cornyn as directly impacting her.

“I nearly died on their watch," Zurawksi said. "As a result of what happened to me, I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future.”

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