My patient, who I’ll call Raquel, is age 23 and mother to a seven-year-old son. She had never been able to afford long-acting, effective contraception. In her subsequent unintended pregnancy, she was hospitalized with pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs, a life-threatening condition in pregnancy.

After four months in the hospital, Raquel gave birth to a girl. Twenty-four hours later, she died, her son crying by her side. She left behind two kids and a compelling message about the need for contraceptive coverage.

Lack of contraceptive coverage can have tragic consequences. I will never forget Raquel and her family.