Drawing on her 20 years of experience as a provider, Dr. Sella shares deeply intimate, profoundly human stories of third-trimester abortion, interweaving her patients’ experiences with her own personal and professional journey, revealing why she dedicated her life to this work

Dr. Sella brings the reader into a typical week at the clinic as she cares for patients seeking care for a range of reasons, including a late diagnosis of a fetal anomaly, domestic violence, and a recurrence of cancer. She describes the realities of her patients’ lives, the barriers they encounter when trying to access care, and the decision-making processes they navigate, giving readers a view of the complex and nuanced situations these patients face. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, twenty-two states have either banned or severely restricted abortion, creating delays for those seeking care. As a result, patients who could have been seen earlier, face the necessity of an abortion later in pregnancy. And they deserve competent and compassionate care.

The stories in Beyond Limits challenge readers to reexamine preconceived notions of gestational limits and viability. By moving away from political rhetoric, Dr. Sella aims to change the narrative of abortion care later in pregnancy to one that reflects the reality of people’s lives. She invites readers to delve into their own assumptions and judgments and evokes deep understanding for real people whose hearts, reasons and stories are more complex than those weaponized in conversations about abortion.