GAINESVILLE, TEXAS - The Texas law requiring doctors to show sonograms to patients before they perform abortions has been controversial from the very start. But Tuesday, a federal appeals court ruled Texas can enforce the law.

A YouTube video tells the story of a Texoma girl named Laci who got pregnant after she graduated from high school. Just weeks into her pregnancy she paid a doctor for an abortion, but soon changed her mind after seeing a sonogram.

"The nurse whispered something about it being a girl and 12 weeks for the first time I thought to myself I had a daughter not just a thing or clump of skin," said Laci.

She says her child's life was saved that day, December 23, just two days before Christmas.
And 9 months later she gave birth to her daughter.

"This is my daughter Madison she's beautiful, amazing and the greatest thing that ever happened to me," said Laci.

These are stories Sandee Feyereisen of the ABBA Women's Center in Gainesville, hear every week.
That's why she applauds the federal decision that now requires doctors to show patients their sonograms before an abortion.

"Its a huge victory for women, if your not able to see your own health records and your own sonogram you're really at a handicap in not making your own choice," said Feyereisen.

Every week her center does free sonograms.
In her 5 years as director she's had only two women who decided to get an abortion.

"Most girls change their mind when they see a live baby moving around on that sonogram," said Feyereisen.

Groups like Planned Parenthood also think women should have the opportunity to see their sonogram.
They say the problem with the law is that it requires doctors to show it to women, even if they don't want to see it.

"It takes the option away from the women, it says that her ability to make a choice is meaningless and irrelevant," said Kelly Hart of Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood representatives say women and their doctors should make the choice, not politicians and judges.

Both groups agree the fight is far from over because there could be an appeal in the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, no date has been set for when Texas officials will start actually enforcing the law.