Trapped by Red Tape: A West Virginia Family’s Fight for Better Birth Care

In this heartfelt episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Ambrose and Mary Grace Rucker from West Virginia to share the powerful story of their son’s birth—and the barriers they faced just trying to find a hospital with a functioning NICU.

What should have been one of the most joyful moments of their lives became a race across state lines to find medical care. When Mary Grace developed preeclampsia late in her pregnancy, their only safe option was a hospital 90 minutes away in another state—because the closest in-state facility no longer had a NICU.

They aren’t alone. In large swaths of West Virginia, families face a harsh reality: limited prenatal options, shuttered facilities, and long drives for urgent care. Ambrose explains why Certificate of Need (CON) laws are to blame—antiquated regulations that give existing hospitals the power to block competitors from opening or expanding, even in underserved areas.

The Ruckers’ story puts a human face on how government red tape is endangering moms and babies. From the trauma of being separated from their newborn in the NICU to the lack of local birthing centers and OB care, their experience is a wake-up call. Ambrose is now advocating for CON repeal, fighting to make sure no other family has to go through what they did.

This episode is a moving reminder that policy has real-life consequences, and that freedom in healthcare starts with removing the barriers that prevent care from being delivered where it’s needed most.