Black mom gives birth in truck minutes after Indiana hospital kicks her out claiming that the expectant mom wasn’t past 3 centimeters and could not be admitted.
A victim of racial discrimination? Northwest Indiana woman and her family are demanding accountability amid claims the expectant mother was ‘wrongfully’ turned away from a Crown Point hospital only to minutes later give birth in the car with the assistance of her husband.
According to Mercedes Sheri Wells and husband Leon Wells, the Chicago couple had arrived at Franciscan Health Crown Point, early Sunday morning, after having called ahead, notifying the hospital that they were coming, with the expectant mom in active labor, with the couple expecting treatment and admittance.
In shared posts on Facebook, Sheri claimed the hospital telling her that ‘wasn’t past 3 centimeters’ and could not be admitted despited the delirious expectant mother wailing in pain.
Black expectant mom minutes away from giving birth turned away by Indiana hospital
Posted Sheri in part; ‘I was told to go home from the nurse on shift because she did NOT think i was in active labor. I was checked upon arrival at a little after Midnight and told i was at 3 centimeters. By the NURSE!
‘I NEVER seen or spoke with a Dr. my entire stay! I was put on monitors for over 5 hours with steady contractions. I walked the halls of the labor and delivery unit with contractions 5 minutes apart. Then 4 minutes apart. Then 1 minute apart.
‘I was checked for the last time around early Sunday morning. 11/16
‘The nurse said she can feel the baby head but there’s still no change and i was still at 3 centimeters. She said if my labor persist then come back but right now you are being discharged.
‘I begged to STAY while still upstairs in Labor and delivery Triage. Cried out to the entire Nurses station.Not 1 oz of empathy by none of the nursing staff! Just blank stares and cold words like sorry Dr orders you are to be discharged.’
A Black expecting couple from Chicago, Leon & Mercedes Sheri Wells, were kicked out of Franciscan Health Crown Point in Crown Point, IN, while the mother was in labor. The father had to deliver his own child on the side of the road. The family says the hospital 🏥 should be held… pic.twitter.com/NnpqeQNxly
— Grindz TV (@Grindz_TV) November 16, 2025
How did Crown Point, Indiana hospital get it so wrong?
Viral video of the unfolding chaos showed workers wheeling the woman out of the hospital as she struggled through intense contractions.’
It was while the desperate couple attempted to make their way to another hospital, Community Hospital in Munster, that Sheri gave birth roadside inside the couple’s truck—without doctors, nurses, or emergency personnel some eight minutes later after being discharged from Franciscan Health, CBS News reported.
The family arrived at Community Hospital just before 7 a.m., but by then the newborn had already been delivered. By Sheri’s husband!
Alena, who weighed six pounds, was born at 6:28 a.m. Sunday. The family said Community Hospital provided the care they needed once they arrived.
‘My wife gave birth 8 minutes later I delivered our baby in the truck! After being discharged from the hospital! First Texas now North West Indiana!! Justice will be served!! Racism is REAL,’ husband Leon Wells captioned a Nov. 16 Facebook post.
Newborn baby’s family demand accountability
Sheri Wells’s sister-in-law, Dr Cherise Joy Thompson said the couple were visiting family in Indiana, and the baby wasn’t due for another couple of weeks only for Sheri to go into labor over the weekend.
The relative posted a detailed account online, saying her family experienced something ‘no family should ever experience.’
‘This morning my family went through something no family should ever experience. At 6:20 AM, my sister-in-law was kicked out of Franciscan Health Crown Point while she was in active labor. She begged the staff not to discharge her. She was told, You haven’t progressed past 3 centimeters,’ and was forced to leave despite being in clear pain and distress.
‘We are devastated, angry, and shaken to our core. This was preventable. This was negligent. And yes, we believe racial bias played a role in how she was dismissed and ignored. This should never happen to any woman or any family. We are seeking justice and accountability.’
The family says they believe the outcome could have been avoided had staff taken Sheri Wells’ pain and condition seriously. They also allege racial bias influenced how she was treated and dismissed.
Victim of racial discrimination?
The episode led to commentators on the web condemning Franciscan Health and accusing it of racial discrimination.
Wrote one commentator, ‘My Kingdom FCC Sister You Don’t Have Explain It Us. They Messed With The Wrong Black Person. God’s Got You All!’
Responded another, ‘I’m sorry that you had to go through this but many ppl stand behind you… I’m here we are here justice will be granted.’
Stated another, ‘This is sad and unacceptable. They put you and your baby at risk.I hope and pray you both are fine and well congratulations on your new bundle!’
Responding to the cascade of criticism against the medical facility, Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Raymond Grady promised to investigate the ‘unfortunate’ episode.
Stated the CEO in part, ‘We are aware of the video and the concerns expressed on social media regarding the discharge of a pregnant patient from Franciscan Health Crown Point. We are grateful to learn from online and media reports that both mother and child are reportedly doing well.
‘The video and the comments it has generated are deeply troubling, and we understand the concern this has raised. The video is just one part of the information we are reviewing as part of a thorough investigation into this alleged incident.
‘While patient privacy laws make it difficult for us to comment more deeply, it is important to note that the videos and the narrative surrounding them do not accurately represent Franciscan Health Crown Point’s Catholic healthcare ministry’s values, which include respect for life, compassionate concern and Christian stewardship. Our goal is to make everyone who walks through our doors feel the love of Christ through our actions.
‘The reality is disparities in healthcare outcomes exist and Franciscan Health Crown Point strives to be part of the solution, not the problem.’
‘We remain committed to meeting and exceeding all regulations and best practices for care, and we will take appropriate action based on the findings of our review.’
The episode echoes that of another black expectant mother, Karrie Jones of Dallas, Texas, who claimed being forced to endure an unnecessarily long wait before being admitted while a Mesquite RN insisted she fill out paperwork despite the expectant mom in excruciating pain and minutes from delivering. The nurse in that episode, LaCrista Vaughn has since been fired from Dallas Regional Medical Center.
