After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled last week that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, the state's largest hospitals began suspending all IVF treatments.

For Auburn men's basketball head coach Bruce Pearl and his son, associate head coach Stephen Pearl, the issue is personal.

“The government should support us and our families, not prevent our son and his wife from having their first child or grandchild.” – Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl on Alabama's fight to protect IVF speaks. @StevenPearl22 @Coach Bruce Pearl https://t.co/K77fkhZgvC pic.twitter.com/7aOHseZYa0

— Next Round (@NextRoundLive) February 27, 2024

Stephen Pearl said he and his wife, Brittany, went through several rounds of IVF in the last year in an attempt to conceive.

He said he was just weeks away from implanting a healthy embryo, but that was halted by a state Supreme Court ruling.

“There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of families across the state who are trying to create life and have children, and they're also going through this very expensive treatment and it's being delayed,” he said. Told.

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His father used his platform at a press conference to address the issue.

“I'm pro-life, pro-family, pro-kids. I'm a conservative Alabaman,” Auburn's head coach said. “I will use my platform to call on all three branches of state government to make Alabama the most family- and child-friendly state in the nation and address the obstacles currently facing couples experiencing hardship. We want to encourage you to get rid of the in vitro fertilization process.

“The government should help us and our families. Don't prevent my son and his wife from having their first child or grandchild. So I would like to ask anyone who is listening to this, or who is listening to this, I'm asking all of you out there to call your state representative or representative or woman and let them know that you support IVF, and if possible, come to the steps of the Capitol tomorrow and have your voice heard. .

“I don’t think this is the intent of the law, and it needs to be fixed.”

Michael Brauner is a senior sports analyst and contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP