A woman in active labor was forced to give birth on the side of the road after being discharged by a hospital in northwest Indiana. Now, her devastated family is demanding justice.
Mercedes Wells and her husband, Leon Wells, say they begged for help at Franciscan Health Crown Point on Sunday, November 16, 2025, but instead of receiving care, they were escorted out by security. Staff allegedly dismissed the agonizing cries of a woman who was only minutes away from delivering her baby.
Mere moments later, their daughter was born in the front seat of their car with no medical staff, no sterile environment, and no preparation — just a terrified father and a mother in excruciating pain.
Now, they want answers and accountability.
Agonizing Pleas and Cold Shoulders
Mercedes and Leon took all the right steps when they realized labor had begun. Although baby Alena Ariel Wells was arriving two weeks early, the experienced parents remained calm. They even called ahead to the ER.
What they encountered was far from supportive.
The nurse who checked her believed Mercedes wasn’t far along.
“I was in excruciating pain… she saw me in pain and agony, and I guess she still perceived me to not be in labor,”
— Mercedes told CBS News.
Despite contractions coming one minute apart, staff eventually told Mercedes to go home and return when labor “progressed.” They were escorted out by a nurse and security without ever meeting the doctor who discharged her.
Once outside, they rushed to their truck to find a medical facility that would help.
A Father’s Desperation and a Shocking Delivery
They barely made it onto the road when Mercedes’ body took over.
According to her, they left the hospital at 6:20 a.m.
She delivered the baby eight minutes later.
In the front seat of their car, Leon had no choice but to act. With no medical training, he prayed and guided the delivery as best he could. Miraculously, both mother and baby survived.
But the family says the incident should never have reached this point.
Family Speaks Out
Mercedes’s sister-in-law, Cherise Thompson, a digital creator and singer with a large following, said she woke to frantic messages from her mother urging her to call back.
What she learned shocked her.
Cherise recounted how Leon grabbed a blanket, placed the newborn on Mercedes’ chest, and drove straight to Munster Community Hospital, where staff finally provided proper care.
Cherise described how Mercedes had pleaded with the nurse before being discharged:
“Mercedes begged her. She begged her… ‘I’m really in active labor. I can feel it.’ And she just ignored her.”
Now They Want Justice
The Wells family has hired attorney Cannon Lambert, believing the case involves discrimination.
Mercedes said:
“I’ve seen how common it is in the Black community, so I know that it happens often. I just never thought it would happen to me.”
Their attorney stated this is not an isolated incident and that too many patients are dismissed or ignored in medical settings. He argues those responsible should be terminated and that hospital policies need urgent reform.
Mercedes said:
“I was treated less than an animal.”
Her brother-in-law, Lance Thompson Jr., is pushing for changes that protect women, ensure patients are informed, and empower them to advocate for themselves.
Hospital Under Fire
By November 18, Mercedes and her baby were reportedly doing fine, but outrage continued to grow.
Raymond Grady, President and CEO of Franciscan Health Crown Point, issued a statement acknowledging the incident and the circulating video of Mercedes being wheeled out. He called the footage concerning but said it represented only one perspective.
The hospital launched an internal investigation, promising “appropriate action.”
Records Withheld and Identities Hidden
On November 19, Cherise claimed on social media that the hospital refused to release Mercedes’s medical records and would not identify the nurse or doctor who discharged her. Their names were allegedly missing from all documentation.
Cherise even posted a photo of the nurse who escorted Mercedes out and asked internet users to help identify her.
Two days later, on November 21, the hospital announced that the nurse and doctor involved were no longer employed there.
A New Twist: The Pain Isn’t Gone
Just as it seemed progress was being made, the family was hit with new fears.
On November 22, Mercedes and Leon posted a video thanking supporters and promising to keep fighting for change.
But on November 23, Cherise shared alarming news: Mercedes had been rushed back to the hospital in severe pain.
The next day, Cherise updated:
“Doctors are saying the extreme pain she’s in is the result of trauma from her delivery. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to heal.”
Cherise continues updating supporters as the ordeal unfolds.
