ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — Since the passage of Senate Bill 8, which prohibits abortion once a heartbeat is detected, many Texans who need abortions have left home for care. It's lead to a surge in patients at clinics in surrounding states

Planned Parenthood of South Texas would normally be filled with patients receiving different types of care for abortion. Jeffrey Hons, the president and CEO, says they had no choice but to shut down those procedures.

“It’s eerily quiet here now and that’s been the case here for the month of September," Hons said. “And then when the Supreme Court turned its back on not only the women of Texas, but the legal framework of the United States of America, then things went eerily quiet here when people realized finding abortion in Texas had essentially become nearly impossible and the flurry of activity has now moved across state lines where people are desperately trying to find the care very very far away that they should be able to find right here.”

Hons says it feels wrong for them to not be offering the services their patients desperately need.

“And for those people finding abortion care that is legal, safe and offered without judgement and without stigma, it’s essential. It’s a human dignity, it’s a human right. And so, it is very painful right now, to be experiencing the emotion and physic toll that Senate Bill 8 is creating for staff who want to help people but can’t," Hons said.

This reality has put some people in a tough spot; their options are slim.

“There is so much to be worried about right now. I mean when you talk to abortion providers in neighboring states, whether that be Louisiana, New Mexico Oklahoma, they are seeing an uptick in the number of patients who are reporting Texas zip codes as their home address," Hons said.

The New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproduction Choice is seeing that firsthand.

Brittany Defeao, the program manager, shows us some context. She says In September 2019, they performed 20 abortions, in September of 2020 that number dropped to 15, and this year, it’s up to 50 people, 80% of whom are Texans.

“We were not really seeing new Mexico patients, it’s a very small amount of what we serve. We do anyone. Anywhere you come from, we will support you. Clearly Texas is the majority, it always has been, now it’s overwhelming, it is all Texas people," Defeao said.

To look at it another way, in 2020 they provided abortions to 216 people and they have already surpassed that this year with three months to go.

“It’s not how it used to be. It’s like they scatter in, they are just showing up. A lot of them are flying in in the morning. I’m getting them at the airport, taking them straight to an appointment, picking them up, getting food, they are flying back," Defeao said.

She says their phones have not stopped ringing; people are terrified to submit an application while still in Texas and are unsure of the boundaries around Senate Bill 8.

“So, we have the people who are afraid to travel, the people who are afraid to travel in a pandemic, and the people who are afraid that they are going to go to jail if they come out here to access care," Defeao said.

On top of all of that, their resources are slim.

“So, what we’re seeing is really low income, marginalized communities, the people that need the help the most," Defeao said. “These are people that have nothing, that don’t have access to birth control, to health care, to food, to safety.”

That’s why this clinic in New Mexico is making sure the people of Texas are reminded that they do have options.

“Just like confirming that community and trying to break that shame and stigma that’s even heavier because of this law," Defeao said.

'She surprised us all': Despite due date, baby shares birthday with grandmother, great-grandmother

Updated: 5:21 AM EDT Oct 1, 2021

Birdie Eve's birthday will always be a special day.That's because the newborn from Phoenix, Arizona, shares it with her grandmother and great-grandmother.On Sept. 12, Birdie's arrival was the best birthday gift for Shelley Parkhurst, 60, and her mother, Gail, 96."We thought it was going to be the 24th but she surprised us all," Parkhurst told KNXV. "I mean, how can you plan that? Really, how can you plan it?"Birdie's parents — Marissa Mendoza and Nicholas Parkhurst — were just as surprised by the coincidental birthdate."I never thought she'd be born on my mom's birthday, " Nicholas Parkhurst said. "She has been saying it since the beginning that it's gonna happen on her birthday, and I'm like, 'No it's not, it's the 24th."Birdie's early arrival came due to some health complications and her parents are glad she arrived safely."I couldn't have an epidural, so I had to go in early, so that I could have a safe delivery because, if I waited any longer, it wouldn't have been safe, so that's why I got induced early, and I'm like, 'Oh, well, maybe she will be born on that day,'" Mendoza said.Even after Mendoza was induced on Sept. 11, nurses told her Birdie may not arrive until Sept. 13. Instead, she was born on a day so special to her family. "I can't really describe it," Mendoza said.

AW! Oklahoma zoo announces birth of rare clouded leopard kitten

The 2-year-old female clouded leopard, Rukai, gave birth to a female kitten on Aug. 6

Updated: 12:26 PM EDT Aug 19, 2021

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden on Tuesday announced the birth of a rare clouded leopard kitten.According to the zoo, following approximately a 90-day gestation period, the 2-year-old female clouded leopard, Rukai, gave birth to a female kitten on Aug. 6, at the zoo’s Cat Forest habitat. Officials said this is the first successful birth of an offspring for Rukai and her mate, 2-year-old JD. Because this is such a significant birth, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for clouded leopards recommended the zoo’s animal care experts hand-rear the kitten to ensure she thrives, officials said. Immediately following the kitten’s birth, the zoo’s carnivore caretakers stepped in and began caring for the little leopard. She was moved to a climate-controlled incubator to help regulate her body temperature and caretakers started round-the-clock bottle feedings of a specialty felid formula and continuous monitoring. Caretakers report the kitten is healthy and doing everything a newborn should be doing — eating, sleeping and growing. Additionally, her eyes are now fully open, according to the zoo. Clouded leopards are born with their eyes closed and begin to open them at two weeks of age. “The kitten appears very strong and healthy, and we are thrilled by the progress she’s making,” said Tyler Boyd, OKC Zoo’s curator of carnivores. “For myself and entire team, the opportunity to care for this offspring, who is incredibly valuable to the conservation of this critically vulnerable species, is a career highlight.”

Giving birth to rare identical triplets.

A mother from Oklahoma delivered three baby girls in June.

The family is finally together after the two youngest came home from the hospital.

Aspen, Kensli and Layken spent nearly two months in the NICU.

“They were born at 29 weeks. So, they were all a little over two pounds. So, they were really small,” mom Stephanie Norman said.

Small but mighty – and growing every day.

“Aspen, she actually got to come home first,” she said. “The other two were still in the NICU, so that was really hard.”

The Normans are all together now. Stephanie, dad TJ and 2-year-old Wyatt are adjusting going from a family of three to six.

Stephanie gave birth to the triplets on June 2.

“They all have their own sack, so since they all shared one placenta, that made them identical,” she said.

The news of three babies came as a huge shock to the high school sweethearts.

“We wanted one more and we were hoping it would be a girl. And then we were surprised we got three girls!” Stephanie said.

“I kind of joked about it on the way there for the first ultrasound. Yeah, what are we going to do if we hear more than one heartbeat – and then there were three of them in there," TJ said.

Big brother Wyatt couldn’t be prouder.

“When they get up in the morning, he’ll be like, ‘Hi, sissy,’” Stephanie said.

Telling the girls apart is a challenge.

“We have little anklet bracelets on them right now of different colors with their initials on them,” Stephanie said.

It’s three of everything now – a three-seat stroller and lots of diapers. But the Normans are grateful.