Feb. 14, 2026
Baby Samaria Sauls: NICU Death in Fort Worth — Missing Organs Allegation & A Family Demanding Answers
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A premature infant dies after weeks in a Fort Worth NICU, and her family says her body was returned without organs and without clear consent—now they’re demanding answers, accountability, and justice for Baby Samaria Sauls.
CREDITS:
Created, Written, & Produced by John Reedburg
Hosted & Narrated by Samantha Paul
Production Company: John Reedburg Media
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
https://www.youtube.com/@NoTearsForBlacksGirls
facebook.com/notearsforblackgirls
instagram.com/notearsforblackgirls
tiktok.com/@notearsforblackgirls
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Imagine this.
You're a parent standing outside
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a locked hospital door,
listening to the muffled rhythm
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of machines you don't control,
staring at a hallway where
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people in scrubs move fast but
won't say your baby's name.
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You came to visit like you
always do.
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You came with the kind of hope
only parents of premature babies
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understand, the hope that gets
rebuilt every single day in the
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neonatal intensive care unit,
piece by piece, oz by oz, breath
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00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,480
by breath.
You're already living inside
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00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:37,840
fear, but you've trained
yourself to swallow it because
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00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,680
your child needs you steady.
You need to believe in progress.
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00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,760
You need to believe in she's
getting stronger.
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00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,320
You need to believe that the
hardest part is behind you.
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00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,360
Now imagine a nurse stops you
and says you can't go back there
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because a sterile procedure is
happening.
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00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,560
Imagine you accept that answer
for a moment, because you're
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trying not to be the difficult
parent.
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You're trying to be respectful.
You're trying to trust the
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people with the badges, the
credentials, the keys, and the
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authority.
And then imagine the minute
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stretching and stretching and
stretching.
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Imagine the moment you start to
feel it in your chest, that
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silent alarm that parents talk
about, the one that doesn't come
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from a monitor.
It comes from your gut.
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Imagine you ask again and the
answers don't answer.
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Imagine you realize you're not
being updated, you're being
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managed.
Imagine the information only
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comes when you chase it down.
Imagine that you have to fight
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inside a hospital just to find
out what's happening to your own
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child.
Now imagine you finally learn
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your baby is in distress.
Imagine you learn that someone
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noticed something earlier.
Pale skin, a change that didn't
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look right, and you find out not
in real time, but later, after
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the window for urgency has
already closed.
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Imagine your baby girl dies in a
place that was supposed to
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protect her.
Imagine you walk out of that
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hospital with your arms empty,
carrying a grief so heavy it
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feels physical, like it has
weight and temperature and
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teeth.
And now imagine the part that
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turns grief into horror.
Imagine days later, you're at
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the Funeral Home trying to do
the unthinkable final
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arrangements for your infant,
trying to stay upright long
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enough to make decisions no
parent should ever have to make.
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Imagine you think the hospital
part is over, and now you can at
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least lay your baby to rest with
dignity.
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And then imagine you're told
your baby arrived without her
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organs.
Imagine you never authorized
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organ removal beyond whatever
you believed you signed for.
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Imagine you never consented to
your child being returned to you
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incomplete.
Imagine, you ask, where are her
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organs, and the answers sound
like silence.
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Wearing a suit.
Imagine that the very last thing
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you can do for your child, bury
her, has been invaded by
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questions you shouldn't have to
ask.
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And the darkest thought, the
thought nobody wants to say out
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loud, but everybody thinks the
second they hear missing organs
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comes crawling into your mind
like smoke.
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If they can take organs from my
baby without telling me, what
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else can they do?
Who has access?
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Who profits?
Who decides what a black child's
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body is worth after her last
breath?
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This is no tears for black
girls.
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I'm Samantha Paul, and today we
are telling the story of baby
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Samaria Sauls and the family
demanding answers after her
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death in a neonatal intensive
care unit in Fort Worth, TX.
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Answers about what happened,
answers about what wasn't
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communicated, and answers about
why her body was allegedly sent
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to the Funeral Home without her
organs.
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This episode is based on public
reporting and on family
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statements shared publicly,
including court and advocacy
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materials tied to their efforts.
Where claims are allegations, I
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will say so.
Our focus is simple
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accountability and bringing
attention back to the families
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whose pain gets minimized the
moment the headlines fade.
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Samaria Sauls was one of twin
girls.
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According to the family's
GoFundMe fundraiser, the twins
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were born prematurely on October
23rd, 2025.
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Their mother, Samaria Bates, and
their father, Kenneth Sauls,
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were told the girls needed time.
Time to grow stronger, time to
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feed, time to gain weight, time
to cross the invisible finish
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line that turns NICU baby into
going home baby.
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The family says the girls did
not have major complications
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beyond being born early.
They were in the neonatal
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intensive care unit at Texas
Health Harris Methodist Hospital
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in Fort Worth, TX 6 weeks is a
long time to live inside a
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hospital schedule.
It is a long time to measure
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love and visits, hand sanitizer,
quiet prayers and tiny diapers.
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It is a long time to watch your
child fight for basic things
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most babies do automatically.
But it's also a long time to
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build hope.
Because in those weeks you start
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to plan again.
You start to imagine your baby
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in sunlight instead of
fluorescent light.
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You start to picture the car
seat, the crib, the first night
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home.
You start to believe you're
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going to make it.
Then Friday, December 5th, 2025
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came.
A Fort Worth Star Telegram
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report, later republished by
Yahoo News, describes the
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family's concerns about what
happened that day.
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According to that reporting,
Kenneth Sauls went for his daily
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visit to see his daughters.
A nurse stopped him from
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entering, saying a sterile
procedure was occurring.
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The family says communication
that day was not clear, not
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timely and not compassionate,
that they had to fight for
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information and that they
weren't kept informed the way
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parents should be in a medical
emergency involving their child.
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The reporting states Samaria
died at about 7:30 in the
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evening.
The family says the hospital
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told them the cause was
necrotizing enterocolitis, often
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shortened to NECA, life
threatening illness in newborns
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that involves severe
inflammation and injury to the
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intestines.
NEC is real, it is serious, and
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it is terrifying, especially for
premature infants.
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But what families want to know
in cases like this is not just
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the name of a condition.
They want the timeline.
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They want to know when the first
signs were noticed.
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They want to know when doctors
were notified.
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They want to know what
interventions were attempted and
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when.
They want to know whether
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urgency matched the moment.
And that is where the family's
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questions sharpen.
Because on social media and in a
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message shared publicly that we
were asked to amplify, Samaria's
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aunt describes a sequence that
has haunted the family.
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A visit around noon, a baby
described as pale, and
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allegations that the baby
appeared pale much earlier in
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the morning.
In the family's view, that gap
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between what was seen and when
action was taken is not a minor
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detail.
It is the difference between a
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chance and a tragedy.
Now I want to pause here and be
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clear about something.
When a baby dies, families often
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receive partial answers,
clinical phrases, and closed
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doors.
Hospitals cite privacy.
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Staff close ranks.
Parents are left with fragments.
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And in that vacuum, every
unanswered question becomes a
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wound that won't close.
But even with that being true,
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nothing prepares a family for
what came next.
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The family consented to an
autopsy.
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And here is where the story
splits into two realities that
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can both be true at the same
time.
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Reality #1 Autopsies, by
definition involve the removal
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of organs for examination.
That is standard medical
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practice.
In the Star Telegram reporting,
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Doctor Reed Quinton, the
president of the National
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Association of Medical
Examiners, is quoted explaining
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that autopsies always involve
organ removal and that organs
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can be retained for further
studies or released with the
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body depending on the consent.
Reality #2 Families can still be
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blindsided by what that means in
practice, especially if the
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consent process was unclear,
rushed, poorly explained, or if
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they did not understand that
autopsy might include the
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hospital retaining organs
afterward.
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Families can feel violated when
they receive a body they believe
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is incomplete, especially when
they say they never authorized
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retention, never received a
clear explanation, and never
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received a transparent inventory
of what was taken, what was kept
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and why.
According to the Star, Telegram
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and Yahoo News reporting,
Kenneth Sauls said he consented
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to a hospital autopsy after his
daughter's death, but he was not
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informed that the organs would
be retained.
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The reporting also states that
the president of Texas Health
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Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort
Worth, called him and told him
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the hospital still had the
baby's organs.
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The hospital declined to comment
publicly on the situation,
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citing patient privacy laws.
The Funeral Home referenced in
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the reporting also declined to
comment.
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And this is the moment where a
family's grief collides with a
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fear that many Black families
know too well.
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The fear that institutions
believe they can do things to
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our bodies and our children's
bodies that they would never do
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to someone else without
explanation, without
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transparency, and without
consequence.
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When a family says our baby came
back without her organs, people
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immediately jumped to one word.
Harvesting, body harvesting,
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organ harvesting, trafficking of
the dead.
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Let me be careful.
We do not have evidence that
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Samaria Sauls was a victim of
organ trafficking.
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We do not have evidence that a
criminal enterprise harvested
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her organs.
What we do have is a family
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saying they did not authorize
what happened, they did not
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understand what they were
consenting to, and they were not
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given clear answers.
And we have public reporting
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acknowledging the organs were
retained and that the hospital
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president told the father the
hospital still had them.
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But here is why the harvesting
fear spread so fast, especially
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in Black communities.
Because history taught us to be
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suspicious.
Black bodies have been exploited
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in the name of medicine,
research, and education since
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the earliest days of American
Medical training, Grave robbing,
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unconsented experimentation,
disrespect, and death.
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Even when the intent wasn't
profit, the reality was the
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same.
A system that did not treat
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black life and black dignity as
fully human.
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And even in modern America,
families are still alleging that
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organs were removed or retained
without proper consent in other
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contexts.
In April of 2024, CNN reported
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on lawsuits from families of
deceased Alabama inmates
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alleging their loved ones bodies
were returned without major
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organs and that families were
not asked for consent to retain
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those organs.
That is a separate situation.
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Different people, different
systems.
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But it shows why families don't
easily accept Trust Us as an
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answer anymore.
When you've seen other families
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say the same thing, your mind
goes to the worst possibility
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immediately because the worst
possibility has happened to
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somebody, somewhere before.
So what does a family do when
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they feel like something is
wrong and the institution that
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holds the answers closes its
mouth?
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They document.
They organize.
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They get loud.
The GoFundMe fundraiser for this
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family is titled Justice for
Samaria.
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Help us Find Answers, organized
by Savia Johnson on behalf of
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Samaria Bates and Kenneth
Saul's.
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In the fundraiser, the family
says Samaria's grandfather
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arrived to visit the twins
around midday on December 5th
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and was denied access because of
a sterile procedure.
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And they describe concerns about
a nurse noticing Samaria looked
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pale earlier that morning.
With delays in reporting and
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notification.
The family says they have not
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been given a clear explanation
of what went wrong.
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They describe attempts to meet
with hospital staff and
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leadership that they say were
unsuccessful.
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They are raising funds to pursue
answers and accountability and
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to prevent other families from
experiencing the same kind of
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silence.
Now I want to do what the family
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asked us to do.
Samaria's grandmother contacted
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us directly and asked us to help
get the word out about their
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efforts, including a March
happening later this month and a
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message she shared asking people
to pray for her family.
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We are not a major network.
We are not backed by billion
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00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:36,720
dollar sponsors, but we are loud
where it counts and we are
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00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,520
consistent.
And when a family asks us to
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00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,600
help, we do what we can to get
the story out.
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00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,520
Here is the message posted by
Samaria's aunt.
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00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,920
I am going to read it exactly as
it appears.
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00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:56,520
Please pray for my family.
On October 23rd 2025 my sister
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00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,960
gave birth to identical twins
girls and the girls were small
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00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,520
so they were to stay in the NICU
until they reached a certain
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00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,560
weight.
No health conditions at all.
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00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:11,200
On December 5th, 2025, my mom
went to visit the twins around
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00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,480
noon and noticed 1 was pale,
still laying in the incubator
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00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,080
and that she was not breathing.
Then was notified by a NICU
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00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,720
nurse that this was normal and
the baby had been noticeably
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00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,080
pale allegedly since 8:00 AM.
By the time my mother seen her
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00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:32,120
around noon, she had already
been in this state for hours and
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00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:39,040
already changing colors.
Deceased on December 12th, 2025.
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00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,360
We arrived at the Funeral Home
to make final arrangements and
246
00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,680
discovered that my niece arrived
at the Funeral Home without her
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00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,520
organs.
Consent was never given to the
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00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,440
hospital to keep her organs.
We were also told that the baby
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00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,600
did not come from the medical
examiner, but directly from the
250
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,960
hospital.
Hospitals supposedly performed
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00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:03,600
their own private autopsy.
The doctor we need to speak with
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00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,520
is now on vacation so we have no
access to him until he comes
253
00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,520
back.
We still haven't received a call
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00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,280
from the hospital stating what
exactly happened to our sweet
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00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,240
innocent baby who was supposed
to come home this month.
256
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,560
Please keep my sister in your
prayers.
257
00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,760
This happened at Texas Health
Harris Methodist downtown Fort
258
00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,360
Worth, TX.
As of now, we know of two people
259
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,880
before us that this has happened
to and one other family while we
260
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,400
were visiting.
The other twin.
261
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:38,560
That is the family speaking in
real time in raw grief, trying
262
00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,160
to make sense of something that
feels senseless.
263
00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,760
Now let's talk about the March.
The family and supporters are
264
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,280
organizing a peaceful walk in
remembrance of Baby Samaria
265
00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,840
Sauls, the flyer reads.
Please join us in remembrance of
266
00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,840
Baby Samaria Sauls.
It describes it as a peaceful,
267
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,680
united walk and invites
families, friends, supporters
268
00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,200
and advocates to attend and to
bring signs if able.
269
00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:13,000
The walk is scheduled for
Saturday, February 21st, 2026.
270
00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,960
2:00 PM is the meet up time.
2:30 PM is when the walk begins.
271
00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,760
The location listed is 910 5th
Ave.
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00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:29,320
Fort Worth, TX 76104.
If you are in Texas, if you are
273
00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,560
in driving distance, if you are
someone who believes parents
274
00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,880
should never have to beg for
answers about their baby, show
275
00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:41,480
up not for spectacle, for
pressure, for solidarity, for
276
00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,880
the kind of presence that tells
a grieving family you are not
277
00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,120
alone.
Now, for those who want to
278
00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,320
support financially, the family
has a GoFundMe.
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00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,920
The fundraiser is titled Justice
for Samaria.
280
00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:00,880
Help us find answers.
The organizer listed is Savia
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00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,760
Johnson.
The easiest way to find it is to
282
00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:08,000
go to gofundme.com and search
the title Justice for Samaria.
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00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:13,040
Help us find Answers.
Now let's talk about what
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00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,040
families can do in situations
like this.
285
00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,319
Because the truth is many
listeners are hearing this and
286
00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:21,280
thinking, what would I do if
that was my child?
287
00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,319
First, if your child is in a
hospital, especially in
288
00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,800
intensive care, keep a written
log.
289
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:34,320
Dates, times, names, what was
said, what wasn't said.
290
00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,320
Ask for names and spellings.
Ask for titles.
291
00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,080
If someone refuses to give you
their name, write that down to
292
00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,160
ask for the charge nurse.
Ask for the attending physician,
293
00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,960
ask for the patient advocate.
If you feel dismissed, ask again
294
00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,280
and ask louder and bring someone
with you if you can.
295
00:17:55,640 --> 00:18:00,160
Second, if the worst happens and
a death occurs and you are asked
296
00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,960
to consent to an autopsy, slow
it down.
297
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,080
Ask for the consent form in
writing.
298
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,200
Ask someone to explain it line
by line.
299
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,920
Ask specifically, will any
organs be retained.
300
00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,960
Ask if organs will be returned
to the body.
301
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:20,320
Ask where the body goes next.
Ask who transports the body.
302
00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,040
Ask if the medical examiner is
involved.
303
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,920
Ask what private autopsy means
in that hospital's language.
304
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,240
Ask for a copy of everything you
sign before you leave the
305
00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,440
building.
Third, request records
306
00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,480
immediately.
Medical records, Nursing notes,
307
00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,920
the timeline of events, lab
results, imaging, medication
308
00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,320
administration records, the Code
Blue record if there was one.
309
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,800
Hospitals can delay, but paper
trails don't disappear if you
310
00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,920
request them fast and
repeatedly.
311
00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,120
If you can, speak with an
attorney who understands medical
312
00:18:55,120 --> 00:19:00,240
negligence and hospital records.
4th, if you are told organs were
313
00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,760
retained, demand an itemized
list.
314
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:05,200
What organs?
Why?
315
00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,520
Where are they stored?
Under what authority?
316
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,920
For how long?
Who has chain of custody?
317
00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,600
Ask what policy governs
retention.
318
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,280
Ask what state law applies.
Ask how and when the organs can
319
00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,840
be released.
Ask what tests are pending.
320
00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,960
And ask for those answers in
writing.
321
00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,360
Because here is the truth.
Some of what families experience
322
00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:31,200
is not always criminal.
Sometimes it is bureaucratic.
323
00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,440
Sometimes it is policy.
Sometimes it is poor
324
00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,800
communication.
Sometimes it is arrogance.
325
00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,880
But even when it isn't criminal,
it can still be wrong.
326
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,640
Because families deserve
informed consent, not surprise.
327
00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,760
They deserve dignity, not
confusion.
328
00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:54,520
They deserve compassion, not
corporate silence.
329
00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:59,160
And when the families are black,
we have to say the part that the
330
00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,960
polite version avoids.
Black families are often treated
331
00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,240
like they are overreacting until
they are burying someone.
332
00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,360
Black pain is often minimized
until it becomes unignorable,
333
00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:16,040
and Black grief is often met
with procedure instead of
334
00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,800
humanity.
That is why we keep telling
335
00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,240
these stories because the moment
you stop telling them,
336
00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,240
institutions learn they can wait
you out.
337
00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:29,040
In the closing moments, I want
to connect this story to the
338
00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,520
bigger pattern because Samaria's
case is not happening in
339
00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,200
isolation.
We have seen lawsuits and
340
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,680
allegations in other places
where families say their loved
341
00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,960
ones bodies were returned
without organs and without
342
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,360
meaningful consent.
In Alabama, families of inmates
343
00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,760
alleged organs were removed and
retained without consent,
344
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,240
according to CNN reporting from
April of 2024.
345
00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,560
Different context, but the same
core wound families saying they
346
00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:04,080
were not informed, not respected
and not treated like next of kin
347
00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:08,400
with rights.
And in Texas years earlier,
348
00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,320
there were news reports of
families alleging children's
349
00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,480
organs were harvested without
permission.
350
00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,640
These stories spread because the
fear is not irrational.
351
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,520
The fear is built on lived
experience systems that do not
352
00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,800
always see Black families as
partners in care, but as
353
00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,200
obstacles to manage.
So here's the message to
354
00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,560
families listening.
Ask questions like your child's
355
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,720
life depends on it, because it
does.
356
00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,360
Bring a notebook.
Bring a witness.
357
00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,600
Take names, request records.
Don't be intimidated by a
358
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,920
building full of authority.
Hospitals are not gods.
359
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,800
They are institutions.
And institutions can be wrong.
360
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,840
And here's the message to
hospitals and administrators
361
00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,800
listening.
If your policies are ethical,
362
00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,880
then transparency should be
easy.
363
00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,720
If your care is compassionate,
then communication should be
364
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,680
constant.
If a baby dies and a family has
365
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,360
to organize a March just to be
heard, you are not delivering
366
00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:10,600
care.
You are delivering trauma.
367
00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,960
Now, before we go into our
closing announcements, I want to
368
00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,080
say this clearly.
Our hearts are with Samaria
369
00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:23,000
Bates, Kenneth Saul's, their
surviving twin, and the entire
370
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,920
family.
And to Samaria's aunt, who
371
00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,200
reached out to us directly,
thank you for trusting us with
372
00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,200
your family's story.
We are doing what we can to get
373
00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,640
it out.
If you want to support the
374
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,760
family again, search GoFundMe
for Justice for Samaria.
375
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:44,600
Help us find answers.
Organized by Savia Johnson and
376
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,120
if you can show up in person,
The Peaceful Walk is Saturday,
377
00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:52,560
February 21st, 2026.
Meet up at 2:00 PM.
378
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:57,440
Walk begins at 2:30 PM at 910
5th Ave.
379
00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:03,640
Fort Worth, TX 76104.
Now if you love our podcast and
380
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:07,160
want to support this show, there
are several ways you can help us
381
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,000
keep bringing these stories to
light.
382
00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,160
You can subscribe directly
through Spotify via the link in
383
00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,560
the show notes.
You can give us a positive
384
00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,960
rating and a five star review on
any platform where you're
385
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,480
listening to this podcast
because every positive review
386
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,040
helps us reach more listeners
and helps more people hear the
387
00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,400
stories mainstream media
ignores.
388
00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,040
You can also check out stories
from our No Tears for Black
389
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:36,000
Girls book series by JC Reedberg
on Amazon.
390
00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,440
You can download with a Kindle
Unlimited subscription or
391
00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,880
purchase directly in digital or
print.
392
00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,720
You can download the entire
series or choose the book that
393
00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,280
catches your eye.
Either way, the very little you
394
00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:55,080
can do can go a long way.
Our books release monthly on an
395
00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,400
ongoing basis.
Right now our series is at book
396
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,240
#8 with the recent release of
Dubai Nights, which is a story
397
00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,200
that takes place when Destiny
Clark thinks she finally caught
398
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,960
her break.
A luxury modeling contract in
399
00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,920
Dubai, all expenses paid.
A chance to escape her
400
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,360
suffocating student debt and
help her struggling family.
401
00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,400
The photos show Infinity pools,
designer clothes and the life
402
00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,840
she's always deserved.
But the messages stop coming.
403
00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,960
Her little sister Jamila knows
something is wrong.
404
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,480
The tracker goes dark.
The consulate won't help.
405
00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,280
The police don't care about
another missing black girl
406
00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,960
chasing fame overseas.
So Jamila does what the system
407
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,680
won't.
She becomes the bait.
408
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,640
Armed with a fake identity and a
wire, she infiltrates the same
409
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,400
modeling agency that lured
destiny away.
410
00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,120
What she uncovers is a
sophisticated trafficking
411
00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:54,080
network that preys on young
black women desperate for
412
00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,040
opportunity, and a conspiracy
that reaches far beyond Dubai's
413
00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,760
glittering skyline.
But going undercover means
414
00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,040
becoming prey.
And in a world where black girls
415
00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,440
disappear without a trace,
Jamila might be walking into a
416
00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,800
trap she can't escape.
A visceral thriller about the
417
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,320
girls no one looks for, the
sisters who refuse to give up,
418
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,000
and the price of being seen in a
world that wants you invisible.
419
00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,360
Perfect for readers of Tammy
Hogue, Karen Slaughter, and
420
00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:26,600
Stacey Willingham, who crave
diverse voices and unflinching
421
00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,480
truths.
Besides purchasing any of our
422
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,560
books from the No Tears for
Black Girls series on Amazon
423
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,200
Kindle, you can also support us
by streaming the soundtrack to
424
00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,760
our stories.
By searching No Tears for Black
425
00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,840
Girls soundtrack on any music
platform, you can also support
426
00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,720
our solo recording artist Jada
Truth, whose stage name was
427
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,680
inspired from the main character
in our book Dead Mike, the 7th
428
00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,040
book in the No Tears for Black
Girls series.
429
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,480
Search the name Jada Truth on
your favorite music platform or
430
00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,120
follow links to her page from
our music streaming profiles to
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00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:05,240
stay connected with Jada.
She also goes by Jada Truth
432
00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,160
Music on all major social media
platforms.
433
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:12,200
And if you love this podcast,
you can support us by giving us
434
00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,480
a like a follow and a five star
review.
435
00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:20,080
Every positive review helps us
reach more listeners and helps
436
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,400
more people hear the stories
mainstream media ignores.
437
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,440
This is Samantha Paul for No
Tears for Black Girls the cases
438
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,680
they ignored.
Stay loved, stay blessed, stay
439
00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,360
safe.
And remember, whenever you're
440
00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:39,040
trapped in a World of Darkness,
never allow fear to overwhelm
441
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,160
you.
Just believe in your inner
442
00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,480
spirit and remind yourself of
God's first words.
443
00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:46,760
Let there be light.
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,360
Imagine this.
You're a parent standing outside
2
00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,560
a locked hospital door,
listening to the muffled rhythm
3
00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:10,160
of machines you don't control,
staring at a hallway where
4
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,840
people in scrubs move fast but
won't say your baby's name.
5
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,640
You came to visit like you
always do.
6
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,960
You came with the kind of hope
only parents of premature babies
7
00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,240
understand, the hope that gets
rebuilt every single day in the
8
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:31,600
neonatal intensive care unit,
piece by piece, oz by oz, breath
9
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,480
by breath.
You're already living inside
10
00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:37,840
fear, but you've trained
yourself to swallow it because
11
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,680
your child needs you steady.
You need to believe in progress.
12
00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,760
You need to believe in she's
getting stronger.
13
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,320
You need to believe that the
hardest part is behind you.
14
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,360
Now imagine a nurse stops you
and says you can't go back there
15
00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,560
because a sterile procedure is
happening.
16
00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,560
Imagine you accept that answer
for a moment, because you're
17
00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,640
trying not to be the difficult
parent.
18
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,599
You're trying to be respectful.
You're trying to trust the
19
00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:07,840
people with the badges, the
credentials, the keys, and the
20
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,720
authority.
And then imagine the minute
21
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,800
stretching and stretching and
stretching.
22
00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,840
Imagine the moment you start to
feel it in your chest, that
23
00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,760
silent alarm that parents talk
about, the one that doesn't come
24
00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,320
from a monitor.
It comes from your gut.
25
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,480
Imagine you ask again and the
answers don't answer.
26
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,280
Imagine you realize you're not
being updated, you're being
27
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,280
managed.
Imagine the information only
28
00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:40,240
comes when you chase it down.
Imagine that you have to fight
29
00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,080
inside a hospital just to find
out what's happening to your own
30
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,280
child.
Now imagine you finally learn
31
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,960
your baby is in distress.
Imagine you learn that someone
32
00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,040
noticed something earlier.
Pale skin, a change that didn't
33
00:01:55,040 --> 00:02:00,440
look right, and you find out not
in real time, but later, after
34
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,680
the window for urgency has
already closed.
35
00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,680
Imagine your baby girl dies in a
place that was supposed to
36
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,759
protect her.
Imagine you walk out of that
37
00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,440
hospital with your arms empty,
carrying a grief so heavy it
38
00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,640
feels physical, like it has
weight and temperature and
39
00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:19,120
teeth.
And now imagine the part that
40
00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,560
turns grief into horror.
Imagine days later, you're at
41
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,880
the Funeral Home trying to do
the unthinkable final
42
00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,280
arrangements for your infant,
trying to stay upright long
43
00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,240
enough to make decisions no
parent should ever have to make.
44
00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,600
Imagine you think the hospital
part is over, and now you can at
45
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,800
least lay your baby to rest with
dignity.
46
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,520
And then imagine you're told
your baby arrived without her
47
00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,480
organs.
Imagine you never authorized
48
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,560
organ removal beyond whatever
you believed you signed for.
49
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,680
Imagine you never consented to
your child being returned to you
50
00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,800
incomplete.
Imagine, you ask, where are her
51
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,560
organs, and the answers sound
like silence.
52
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,280
Wearing a suit.
Imagine that the very last thing
53
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,280
you can do for your child, bury
her, has been invaded by
54
00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,160
questions you shouldn't have to
ask.
55
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,480
And the darkest thought, the
thought nobody wants to say out
56
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,120
loud, but everybody thinks the
second they hear missing organs
57
00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,760
comes crawling into your mind
like smoke.
58
00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:24,960
If they can take organs from my
baby without telling me, what
59
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,680
else can they do?
Who has access?
60
00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,400
Who profits?
Who decides what a black child's
61
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,360
body is worth after her last
breath?
62
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,440
This is no tears for black
girls.
63
00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,680
I'm Samantha Paul, and today we
are telling the story of baby
64
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,160
Samaria Sauls and the family
demanding answers after her
65
00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,600
death in a neonatal intensive
care unit in Fort Worth, TX.
66
00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,120
Answers about what happened,
answers about what wasn't
67
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,960
communicated, and answers about
why her body was allegedly sent
68
00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:56,960
to the Funeral Home without her
organs.
69
00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,400
This episode is based on public
reporting and on family
70
00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,880
statements shared publicly,
including court and advocacy
71
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:09,360
materials tied to their efforts.
Where claims are allegations, I
72
00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,240
will say so.
Our focus is simple
73
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,640
accountability and bringing
attention back to the families
74
00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,560
whose pain gets minimized the
moment the headlines fade.
75
00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,160
Samaria Sauls was one of twin
girls.
76
00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,480
According to the family's
GoFundMe fundraiser, the twins
77
00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,640
were born prematurely on October
23rd, 2025.
78
00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,400
Their mother, Samaria Bates, and
their father, Kenneth Sauls,
79
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:41,000
were told the girls needed time.
Time to grow stronger, time to
80
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,400
feed, time to gain weight, time
to cross the invisible finish
81
00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,840
line that turns NICU baby into
going home baby.
82
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,480
The family says the girls did
not have major complications
83
00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,920
beyond being born early.
They were in the neonatal
84
00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,400
intensive care unit at Texas
Health Harris Methodist Hospital
85
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:05,440
in Fort Worth, TX 6 weeks is a
long time to live inside a
86
00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,760
hospital schedule.
It is a long time to measure
87
00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,200
love and visits, hand sanitizer,
quiet prayers and tiny diapers.
88
00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,080
It is a long time to watch your
child fight for basic things
89
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,640
most babies do automatically.
But it's also a long time to
90
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,120
build hope.
Because in those weeks you start
91
00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,560
to plan again.
You start to imagine your baby
92
00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,280
in sunlight instead of
fluorescent light.
93
00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:36,960
You start to picture the car
seat, the crib, the first night
94
00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,000
home.
You start to believe you're
95
00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,720
going to make it.
Then Friday, December 5th, 2025
96
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,320
came.
A Fort Worth Star Telegram
97
00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,840
report, later republished by
Yahoo News, describes the
98
00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:52,280
family's concerns about what
happened that day.
99
00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,480
According to that reporting,
Kenneth Sauls went for his daily
100
00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,880
visit to see his daughters.
A nurse stopped him from
101
00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,960
entering, saying a sterile
procedure was occurring.
102
00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,560
The family says communication
that day was not clear, not
103
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,240
timely and not compassionate,
that they had to fight for
104
00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,800
information and that they
weren't kept informed the way
105
00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,320
parents should be in a medical
emergency involving their child.
106
00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,560
The reporting states Samaria
died at about 7:30 in the
107
00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,320
evening.
The family says the hospital
108
00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,200
told them the cause was
necrotizing enterocolitis, often
109
00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,640
shortened to NECA, life
threatening illness in newborns
110
00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,440
that involves severe
inflammation and injury to the
111
00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:41,640
intestines.
NEC is real, it is serious, and
112
00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,200
it is terrifying, especially for
premature infants.
113
00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,240
But what families want to know
in cases like this is not just
114
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,160
the name of a condition.
They want the timeline.
115
00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,920
They want to know when the first
signs were noticed.
116
00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:57,520
They want to know when doctors
were notified.
117
00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,280
They want to know what
interventions were attempted and
118
00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:02,320
when.
They want to know whether
119
00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,760
urgency matched the moment.
And that is where the family's
120
00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,640
questions sharpen.
Because on social media and in a
121
00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,960
message shared publicly that we
were asked to amplify, Samaria's
122
00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,960
aunt describes a sequence that
has haunted the family.
123
00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,880
A visit around noon, a baby
described as pale, and
124
00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,040
allegations that the baby
appeared pale much earlier in
125
00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,360
the morning.
In the family's view, that gap
126
00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,000
between what was seen and when
action was taken is not a minor
127
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,320
detail.
It is the difference between a
128
00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,160
chance and a tragedy.
Now I want to pause here and be
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00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,040
clear about something.
When a baby dies, families often
130
00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,600
receive partial answers,
clinical phrases, and closed
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00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,440
doors.
Hospitals cite privacy.
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00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,600
Staff close ranks.
Parents are left with fragments.
133
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,240
And in that vacuum, every
unanswered question becomes a
134
00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,000
wound that won't close.
But even with that being true,
135
00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,840
nothing prepares a family for
what came next.
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00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,720
The family consented to an
autopsy.
137
00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,040
And here is where the story
splits into two realities that
138
00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,040
can both be true at the same
time.
139
00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:17,200
Reality #1 Autopsies, by
definition involve the removal
140
00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,240
of organs for examination.
That is standard medical
141
00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,640
practice.
In the Star Telegram reporting,
142
00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,040
Doctor Reed Quinton, the
president of the National
143
00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,640
Association of Medical
Examiners, is quoted explaining
144
00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,720
that autopsies always involve
organ removal and that organs
145
00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,440
can be retained for further
studies or released with the
146
00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:44,800
body depending on the consent.
Reality #2 Families can still be
147
00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,480
blindsided by what that means in
practice, especially if the
148
00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:53,160
consent process was unclear,
rushed, poorly explained, or if
149
00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,440
they did not understand that
autopsy might include the
150
00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,600
hospital retaining organs
afterward.
151
00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,840
Families can feel violated when
they receive a body they believe
152
00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,040
is incomplete, especially when
they say they never authorized
153
00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,280
retention, never received a
clear explanation, and never
154
00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,520
received a transparent inventory
of what was taken, what was kept
155
00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,600
and why.
According to the Star, Telegram
156
00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,080
and Yahoo News reporting,
Kenneth Sauls said he consented
157
00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:27,080
to a hospital autopsy after his
daughter's death, but he was not
158
00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,360
informed that the organs would
be retained.
159
00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,200
The reporting also states that
the president of Texas Health
160
00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,920
Harris Methodist Hospital, Fort
Worth, called him and told him
161
00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,080
the hospital still had the
baby's organs.
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00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,360
The hospital declined to comment
publicly on the situation,
163
00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,840
citing patient privacy laws.
The Funeral Home referenced in
164
00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,280
the reporting also declined to
comment.
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00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,920
And this is the moment where a
family's grief collides with a
166
00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,560
fear that many Black families
know too well.
167
00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,040
The fear that institutions
believe they can do things to
168
00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,520
our bodies and our children's
bodies that they would never do
169
00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,720
to someone else without
explanation, without
170
00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,240
transparency, and without
consequence.
171
00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:14,040
When a family says our baby came
back without her organs, people
172
00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,400
immediately jumped to one word.
Harvesting, body harvesting,
173
00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,920
organ harvesting, trafficking of
the dead.
174
00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,000
Let me be careful.
We do not have evidence that
175
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,760
Samaria Sauls was a victim of
organ trafficking.
176
00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,440
We do not have evidence that a
criminal enterprise harvested
177
00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,720
her organs.
What we do have is a family
178
00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,080
saying they did not authorize
what happened, they did not
179
00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,960
understand what they were
consenting to, and they were not
180
00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,200
given clear answers.
And we have public reporting
181
00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,440
acknowledging the organs were
retained and that the hospital
182
00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,320
president told the father the
hospital still had them.
183
00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,280
But here is why the harvesting
fear spread so fast, especially
184
00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,880
in Black communities.
Because history taught us to be
185
00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:03,040
suspicious.
Black bodies have been exploited
186
00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,560
in the name of medicine,
research, and education since
187
00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:10,720
the earliest days of American
Medical training, Grave robbing,
188
00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,720
unconsented experimentation,
disrespect, and death.
189
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,120
Even when the intent wasn't
profit, the reality was the
190
00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,960
same.
A system that did not treat
191
00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,240
black life and black dignity as
fully human.
192
00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,520
And even in modern America,
families are still alleging that
193
00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,240
organs were removed or retained
without proper consent in other
194
00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:39,160
contexts.
In April of 2024, CNN reported
195
00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,320
on lawsuits from families of
deceased Alabama inmates
196
00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,880
alleging their loved ones bodies
were returned without major
197
00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,560
organs and that families were
not asked for consent to retain
198
00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:52,800
those organs.
That is a separate situation.
199
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,280
Different people, different
systems.
200
00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,080
But it shows why families don't
easily accept Trust Us as an
201
00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,160
answer anymore.
When you've seen other families
202
00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,720
say the same thing, your mind
goes to the worst possibility
203
00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,160
immediately because the worst
possibility has happened to
204
00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,200
somebody, somewhere before.
So what does a family do when
205
00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,400
they feel like something is
wrong and the institution that
206
00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,720
holds the answers closes its
mouth?
207
00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:22,920
They document.
They organize.
208
00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,720
They get loud.
The GoFundMe fundraiser for this
209
00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,560
family is titled Justice for
Samaria.
210
00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:34,600
Help us Find Answers, organized
by Savia Johnson on behalf of
211
00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,880
Samaria Bates and Kenneth
Saul's.
212
00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,440
In the fundraiser, the family
says Samaria's grandfather
213
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,320
arrived to visit the twins
around midday on December 5th
214
00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,640
and was denied access because of
a sterile procedure.
215
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,160
And they describe concerns about
a nurse noticing Samaria looked
216
00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,600
pale earlier that morning.
With delays in reporting and
217
00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,560
notification.
The family says they have not
218
00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:59,000
been given a clear explanation
of what went wrong.
219
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,280
They describe attempts to meet
with hospital staff and
220
00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,960
leadership that they say were
unsuccessful.
221
00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,400
They are raising funds to pursue
answers and accountability and
222
00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,240
to prevent other families from
experiencing the same kind of
223
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,600
silence.
Now I want to do what the family
224
00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,760
asked us to do.
Samaria's grandmother contacted
225
00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,160
us directly and asked us to help
get the word out about their
226
00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,920
efforts, including a March
happening later this month and a
227
00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,960
message she shared asking people
to pray for her family.
228
00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,560
We are not a major network.
We are not backed by billion
229
00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:36,720
dollar sponsors, but we are loud
where it counts and we are
230
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,520
consistent.
And when a family asks us to
231
00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,600
help, we do what we can to get
the story out.
232
00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,520
Here is the message posted by
Samaria's aunt.
233
00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,920
I am going to read it exactly as
it appears.
234
00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:56,520
Please pray for my family.
On October 23rd 2025 my sister
235
00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,960
gave birth to identical twins
girls and the girls were small
236
00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:03,520
so they were to stay in the NICU
until they reached a certain
237
00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,560
weight.
No health conditions at all.
238
00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:11,200
On December 5th, 2025, my mom
went to visit the twins around
239
00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,480
noon and noticed 1 was pale,
still laying in the incubator
240
00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,080
and that she was not breathing.
Then was notified by a NICU
241
00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,720
nurse that this was normal and
the baby had been noticeably
242
00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,080
pale allegedly since 8:00 AM.
By the time my mother seen her
243
00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:32,120
around noon, she had already
been in this state for hours and
244
00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:39,040
already changing colors.
Deceased on December 12th, 2025.
245
00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,360
We arrived at the Funeral Home
to make final arrangements and
246
00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,680
discovered that my niece arrived
at the Funeral Home without her
247
00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,520
organs.
Consent was never given to the
248
00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,440
hospital to keep her organs.
We were also told that the baby
249
00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,600
did not come from the medical
examiner, but directly from the
250
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,960
hospital.
Hospitals supposedly performed
251
00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:03,600
their own private autopsy.
The doctor we need to speak with
252
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,520
is now on vacation so we have no
access to him until he comes
253
00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,520
back.
We still haven't received a call
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00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,280
from the hospital stating what
exactly happened to our sweet
255
00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,240
innocent baby who was supposed
to come home this month.
256
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,560
Please keep my sister in your
prayers.
257
00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,760
This happened at Texas Health
Harris Methodist downtown Fort
258
00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,360
Worth, TX.
As of now, we know of two people
259
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,880
before us that this has happened
to and one other family while we
260
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,400
were visiting.
The other twin.
261
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:38,560
That is the family speaking in
real time in raw grief, trying
262
00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,160
to make sense of something that
feels senseless.
263
00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,760
Now let's talk about the March.
The family and supporters are
264
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,280
organizing a peaceful walk in
remembrance of Baby Samaria
265
00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,840
Sauls, the flyer reads.
Please join us in remembrance of
266
00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,840
Baby Samaria Sauls.
It describes it as a peaceful,
267
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,680
united walk and invites
families, friends, supporters
268
00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,200
and advocates to attend and to
bring signs if able.
269
00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:13,000
The walk is scheduled for
Saturday, February 21st, 2026.
270
00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,960
2:00 PM is the meet up time.
2:30 PM is when the walk begins.
271
00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,760
The location listed is 910 5th
Ave.
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00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:29,320
Fort Worth, TX 76104.
If you are in Texas, if you are
273
00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,560
in driving distance, if you are
someone who believes parents
274
00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,880
should never have to beg for
answers about their baby, show
275
00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:41,480
up not for spectacle, for
pressure, for solidarity, for
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00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,880
the kind of presence that tells
a grieving family you are not
277
00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,120
alone.
Now, for those who want to
278
00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,320
support financially, the family
has a GoFundMe.
279
00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,920
The fundraiser is titled Justice
for Samaria.
280
00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:00,880
Help us find answers.
The organizer listed is Savia
281
00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,760
Johnson.
The easiest way to find it is to
282
00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:08,000
go to gofundme.com and search
the title Justice for Samaria.
283
00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:13,040
Help us find Answers.
Now let's talk about what
284
00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,040
families can do in situations
like this.
285
00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,319
Because the truth is many
listeners are hearing this and
286
00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:21,280
thinking, what would I do if
that was my child?
287
00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,319
First, if your child is in a
hospital, especially in
288
00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,800
intensive care, keep a written
log.
289
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:34,320
Dates, times, names, what was
said, what wasn't said.
290
00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,320
Ask for names and spellings.
Ask for titles.
291
00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,080
If someone refuses to give you
their name, write that down to
292
00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,160
ask for the charge nurse.
Ask for the attending physician,
293
00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,960
ask for the patient advocate.
If you feel dismissed, ask again
294
00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,280
and ask louder and bring someone
with you if you can.
295
00:17:55,640 --> 00:18:00,160
Second, if the worst happens and
a death occurs and you are asked
296
00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,960
to consent to an autopsy, slow
it down.
297
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,080
Ask for the consent form in
writing.
298
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,200
Ask someone to explain it line
by line.
299
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,920
Ask specifically, will any
organs be retained.
300
00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,960
Ask if organs will be returned
to the body.
301
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:20,320
Ask where the body goes next.
Ask who transports the body.
302
00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,040
Ask if the medical examiner is
involved.
303
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,920
Ask what private autopsy means
in that hospital's language.
304
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,240
Ask for a copy of everything you
sign before you leave the
305
00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,440
building.
Third, request records
306
00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,480
immediately.
Medical records, Nursing notes,
307
00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,920
the timeline of events, lab
results, imaging, medication
308
00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,320
administration records, the Code
Blue record if there was one.
309
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,800
Hospitals can delay, but paper
trails don't disappear if you
310
00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,920
request them fast and
repeatedly.
311
00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,120
If you can, speak with an
attorney who understands medical
312
00:18:55,120 --> 00:19:00,240
negligence and hospital records.
4th, if you are told organs were
313
00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,760
retained, demand an itemized
list.
314
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:05,200
What organs?
Why?
315
00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,520
Where are they stored?
Under what authority?
316
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,920
For how long?
Who has chain of custody?
317
00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,600
Ask what policy governs
retention.
318
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,280
Ask what state law applies.
Ask how and when the organs can
319
00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,840
be released.
Ask what tests are pending.
320
00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,960
And ask for those answers in
writing.
321
00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,360
Because here is the truth.
Some of what families experience
322
00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:31,200
is not always criminal.
Sometimes it is bureaucratic.
323
00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,440
Sometimes it is policy.
Sometimes it is poor
324
00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,800
communication.
Sometimes it is arrogance.
325
00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,880
But even when it isn't criminal,
it can still be wrong.
326
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,640
Because families deserve
informed consent, not surprise.
327
00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,760
They deserve dignity, not
confusion.
328
00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:54,520
They deserve compassion, not
corporate silence.
329
00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:59,160
And when the families are black,
we have to say the part that the
330
00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,960
polite version avoids.
Black families are often treated
331
00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,240
like they are overreacting until
they are burying someone.
332
00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,360
Black pain is often minimized
until it becomes unignorable,
333
00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:16,040
and Black grief is often met
with procedure instead of
334
00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,800
humanity.
That is why we keep telling
335
00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,240
these stories because the moment
you stop telling them,
336
00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,240
institutions learn they can wait
you out.
337
00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:29,040
In the closing moments, I want
to connect this story to the
338
00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,520
bigger pattern because Samaria's
case is not happening in
339
00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,200
isolation.
We have seen lawsuits and
340
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,680
allegations in other places
where families say their loved
341
00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,960
ones bodies were returned
without organs and without
342
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,360
meaningful consent.
In Alabama, families of inmates
343
00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,760
alleged organs were removed and
retained without consent,
344
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,240
according to CNN reporting from
April of 2024.
345
00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,560
Different context, but the same
core wound families saying they
346
00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:04,080
were not informed, not respected
and not treated like next of kin
347
00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:08,400
with rights.
And in Texas years earlier,
348
00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,320
there were news reports of
families alleging children's
349
00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,480
organs were harvested without
permission.
350
00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,640
These stories spread because the
fear is not irrational.
351
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,520
The fear is built on lived
experience systems that do not
352
00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,800
always see Black families as
partners in care, but as
353
00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,200
obstacles to manage.
So here's the message to
354
00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,560
families listening.
Ask questions like your child's
355
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,720
life depends on it, because it
does.
356
00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,360
Bring a notebook.
Bring a witness.
357
00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,600
Take names, request records.
Don't be intimidated by a
358
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,920
building full of authority.
Hospitals are not gods.
359
00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,800
They are institutions.
And institutions can be wrong.
360
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,840
And here's the message to
hospitals and administrators
361
00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,800
listening.
If your policies are ethical,
362
00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,880
then transparency should be
easy.
363
00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,720
If your care is compassionate,
then communication should be
364
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,680
constant.
If a baby dies and a family has
365
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,360
to organize a March just to be
heard, you are not delivering
366
00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:10,600
care.
You are delivering trauma.
367
00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,960
Now, before we go into our
closing announcements, I want to
368
00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,080
say this clearly.
Our hearts are with Samaria
369
00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:23,000
Bates, Kenneth Saul's, their
surviving twin, and the entire
370
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,920
family.
And to Samaria's aunt, who
371
00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,200
reached out to us directly,
thank you for trusting us with
372
00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,200
your family's story.
We are doing what we can to get
373
00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,640
it out.
If you want to support the
374
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,760
family again, search GoFundMe
for Justice for Samaria.
375
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:44,600
Help us find answers.
Organized by Savia Johnson and
376
00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,120
if you can show up in person,
The Peaceful Walk is Saturday,
377
00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:52,560
February 21st, 2026.
Meet up at 2:00 PM.
378
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:57,440
Walk begins at 2:30 PM at 910
5th Ave.
379
00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:03,640
Fort Worth, TX 76104.
Now if you love our podcast and
380
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:07,160
want to support this show, there
are several ways you can help us
381
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,000
keep bringing these stories to
light.
382
00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,160
You can subscribe directly
through Spotify via the link in
383
00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,560
the show notes.
You can give us a positive
384
00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,960
rating and a five star review on
any platform where you're
385
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,480
listening to this podcast
because every positive review
386
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,040
helps us reach more listeners
and helps more people hear the
387
00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,400
stories mainstream media
ignores.
388
00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,040
You can also check out stories
from our No Tears for Black
389
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:36,000
Girls book series by JC Reedberg
on Amazon.
390
00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,440
You can download with a Kindle
Unlimited subscription or
391
00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,880
purchase directly in digital or
print.
392
00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,720
You can download the entire
series or choose the book that
393
00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,280
catches your eye.
Either way, the very little you
394
00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:55,080
can do can go a long way.
Our books release monthly on an
395
00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,400
ongoing basis.
Right now our series is at book
396
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,240
#8 with the recent release of
Dubai Nights, which is a story
397
00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,200
that takes place when Destiny
Clark thinks she finally caught
398
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,960
her break.
A luxury modeling contract in
399
00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,920
Dubai, all expenses paid.
A chance to escape her
400
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,360
suffocating student debt and
help her struggling family.
401
00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,400
The photos show Infinity pools,
designer clothes and the life
402
00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,840
she's always deserved.
But the messages stop coming.
403
00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,960
Her little sister Jamila knows
something is wrong.
404
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,480
The tracker goes dark.
The consulate won't help.
405
00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,280
The police don't care about
another missing black girl
406
00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,960
chasing fame overseas.
So Jamila does what the system
407
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,680
won't.
She becomes the bait.
408
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,640
Armed with a fake identity and a
wire, she infiltrates the same
409
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,400
modeling agency that lured
destiny away.
410
00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,120
What she uncovers is a
sophisticated trafficking
411
00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:54,080
network that preys on young
black women desperate for
412
00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,040
opportunity, and a conspiracy
that reaches far beyond Dubai's
413
00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,760
glittering skyline.
But going undercover means
414
00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,040
becoming prey.
And in a world where black girls
415
00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,440
disappear without a trace,
Jamila might be walking into a
416
00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,800
trap she can't escape.
A visceral thriller about the
417
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,320
girls no one looks for, the
sisters who refuse to give up,
418
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,000
and the price of being seen in a
world that wants you invisible.
419
00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,360
Perfect for readers of Tammy
Hogue, Karen Slaughter, and
420
00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:26,600
Stacey Willingham, who crave
diverse voices and unflinching
421
00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,480
truths.
Besides purchasing any of our
422
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,560
books from the No Tears for
Black Girls series on Amazon
423
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,200
Kindle, you can also support us
by streaming the soundtrack to
424
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our stories.
By searching No Tears for Black
425
00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,840
Girls soundtrack on any music
platform, you can also support
426
00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,720
our solo recording artist Jada
Truth, whose stage name was
427
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,680
inspired from the main character
in our book Dead Mike, the 7th
428
00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,040
book in the No Tears for Black
Girls series.
429
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,480
Search the name Jada Truth on
your favorite music platform or
430
00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,120
follow links to her page from
our music streaming profiles to
431
00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:05,240
stay connected with Jada.
She also goes by Jada Truth
432
00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,160
Music on all major social media
platforms.
433
00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:12,200
And if you love this podcast,
you can support us by giving us
434
00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,480
a like a follow and a five star
review.
435
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Every positive review helps us
reach more listeners and helps
436
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,400
more people hear the stories
mainstream media ignores.
437
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,440
This is Samantha Paul for No
Tears for Black Girls the cases
438
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,680
they ignored.
Stay loved, stay blessed, stay
439
00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,360
safe.
And remember, whenever you're
440
00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:39,040
trapped in a World of Darkness,
never allow fear to overwhelm
441
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,160
you.
Just believe in your inner
442
00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,480
spirit and remind yourself of
God's first words.
443
00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:46,760
Let there be light.
