This morning a couple in Ireland set out on a daylong trek to Liverpool, England, to get an abortion. Since the procedure is illegal in their home country, the couple decided to livetweet the entire experience to “enlighten those who do not want to listen or even allow the people of this country to decide for themselves.”
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 5, 2016
The couple says in a tweet that the fetus had a fatal abnormality called Edwards syndrome. “We were told even if carried to full term, the period of life would be counted in minutes and hours after birth,” they wrote. Ireland has a constitutional ban on abortions, and in July, parliament shut down a bill that would’ve made the exception for fatal fetal abnormalities.
For their journey, the couple had to leave their young son at home for a “procedure that could be carried 20 minutes from home in a risk-free environment.” The pair left has since traveled by plane, bus, and car to get the safe Liverpool facility.
Stage one almost complete. Do we tell him we’re going to Liverpool ? What for ? Because our country doesn’t care. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/vIVOVdsLMf
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Just in time.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/YZQQKWf1NG
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Planes, trains and automobiles.. how can our government sit idly by and let its people go through this.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/5sinSJ8Zv9
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
We have arrived. Forms filled in and shown to the waiting room that’s almost full. Deathly quiet only broken by some very familiar accents..
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Just got moved. Not sure if it’s any better to be in here. Imagine sitting in here on your own.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/18lCSdazbS
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
More than 3,400 people have followed their journey on Twitter. Two women livetweeted about a similar trek to get an abortion in August, which even garnered the attention of Ireland’s minister of health.
A few hours ago, the couple updated that all went well and the woman is in recovering nicely.
All went fine and in recovery.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/hDlzmzuUyQ
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
H/T Mashable