The Diocese and My Uterus: Danielle’s Story

An Upstate woman shares her experience with reproductive healthcare—and how SC’s proposed S.323 “Unborn Child Protection Act” could threaten contraception access and choices.

byDanielle Huffman

When I was 17, I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis when I had my appendix removed. I had my appendix removed because the doctors, all male, thought my pain must be a sign that my appendix was about to rupture. It wasn’t. I had my first of four surgeries the Monday after my junior prom and the week I took my first International Baccalaureate exam (story for another time). I was considered one of the lucky ones because many people who suffer from endometriosis wait years, sometimes decades, before a diagnosis and treatment plan can be developed. My surgeon immediately prescribed Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. 

My second surgery was the day after my 21st birthday, and when I went under, I didn’t know if I’d wake up having had a full and radical hysterectomy. I didn’t, but I was told that I had the worst case my surgeon, an expert in the field, had ever seen in someone so young. I would recover, but I was told it would be extremely unlikely I’d ever get pregnant, and if I were to get pregnant, I would never carry to term or deliver a healthy baby. This was nearly twenty-five years ago. There was no debate or question about whether I needed the surgery or if I should stay on the birth control. It was understood that these were necessary tools for my health and quality of life.

At twenty-seven, I had my first IUD inserted. The birth control pills were not managing my symptoms, and my ob-gyn recommended Mirena to bring relief. It did, and I kept it in for the recommended seven years. My doctor did not ask if my then-husband approved, but did advise that it may be a bit uncomfortable for him during intercourse if he felt the wires. I was not provided any kind of numbing agent, nor was I warned that I should not drive myself. I barely got home before my blood pressure dropped so severely that I passed out.  

After having my IUD removed, I did my best to manage my disease without any kind of medical intervention until I was 43 and the pain was utterly debilitating. I conducted extensive research to find a local doctor who was not only an OB-GYN but also an expert in both endometriosis and menopausal care. I wanted someone who was female, understood my pain, and respected my decision to have a total hysterectomy (uterus, tubes, cervix, ovaries). And I got very lucky. I found my perfect doctor, who was also a surgeon. She agreed that surgery would be the best course of action. Still, due to insurance regulations, she said I needed to have one more laparoscopic surgery to remove the lesions and scar tissue, and that we’d try the IUD again. The only complication? I was still of child-bearing years with healthy hormone levels, and my doctor’s office was associated with the Catholic church. She told me that there was a good chance that the diocese would refuse my treatment plan because, as far as they were concerned, I could still “be fruitful and multiply.” Then she asked if I was married. I told her no, but that I was already engaged to be married, with the wedding set for the following February. She asked if my fiancé had any thoughts on my treatment, and I explained that he just wanted me to feel better and that he’d had a vasectomy more than twenty years ago. Hence, conceiving children was already off the table regardless of my situation. And that was it, the loophole we needed. I was approved and had the surgery in September.

And then I bled for six months. 

We’d jumped through the hoops for insurance, and I got their go-ahead for the hysterectomy, scheduled less than two months after the wedding. The diocese pushed back, though. They were concerned I would regret my decision, which would permanently prevent me from conceiving and carrying a baby. It did not matter that I had literal decades of documented pain, suffering, and treatment. It did not matter that I was 44 and had made this decision after much prayer and consultation with experts in the field. My purpose was to be a vessel for the next generation. They wanted my husband to testify that he was okay with this decision. Thankfully, my doctor reiterated HIS surgery and I was cleared. 

When the anesthesiologist came into my room right before surgery to get me prepped, he asked how I was feeling other than my “girl problems.”

All of This to Say

I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I know that. My last surgery was in April 2024. My doctor/surgeon left medicine at the end of last year. She was only 35. If the “Unborn Child Protection Act” (S.323) passes, it will make it even harder for people like me to get the help that they absolutely need.  

How to Oppose S.323

SC's Women's Rights & Empowerment Network suggests the following. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS LINKS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL POINTS.

• Attend the hearing. Show your support October 1 at 9:30 AM, Gressette Building, Room 105, SC Statehouse.
• Submit written testimony before 9am Monday, September 29. Live testimony spaces are filled, but you can still submit a written statement that will be put on record stating that you oppose the bill and why.
• Contact your legislators. Send a message THIS WEEK urging them to oppose S.323.

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Danielle Huffman has lived her entire life in the South. Raised by incredibly loving parents, she was taught to always ask hard questions, treat all people with kindness, and stand between bullies and their victims.