My niece, Tierra Walker, was a loving, passionate, ambitious human being. She was always working multiple jobs to support her family. She was the anchor of our family: a loving wife to her husband, a doting caregiver to her ailing mother, and an adoring mother to her teenage son, JJ.

I use the past tense, because Tierra is no longer with us.

On December 30, 2024, JJ found his mother in bed, not breathing. He called 911. The dispatcher coached him to start CPR on her, but it was too late. Tierra was pronounced dead that afternoon. It was JJ’s 15th birthday.

But Tierra’s death was entirely preventable. When Tierra got pregnant in 2024, it triggered several serious pregnancy-related complications, including seizures, blood clots, and dangerously high blood pressure. She repeatedly asked her doctors for an abortion to save her life, but her cries fell on deaf ears. If she had been given the abortion care she repeatedly asked for, Tierra Walker would still be alive today.

Instead, my niece is gone, and JJ has no mother. We are trying to put the pieces back together, including with a lawsuit against the state. But the courts move slowly. And life without Tierra is hard.

If you are able, please consider helping us, and especially JJ, navigate this difficult time in our lives. Your donations will help cover our living and medical costs as we continue to grieve this devastating loss.

With love and respect,

Latanya Walker