Like over half of the states in the U.S., Iowa has passed anti-trans laws directed at minors. Thanks to the rights anti-trans rhetoric, anti-trans laws have skyrocketed in the past couple of years. These laws have devastating consequences for the upwards of 11,000 trans teenagers who live in those states. Veronica is one of those trans teenagers. In a story reported by NPR, Veronica shared the 450-mile journey she takes every few months to get from Iowa, her home state, to Minnesota, which allows gender-affirming healthcare. Related Amazing mother explains exactly why she isnt afraid of drag queen story hours in viral video Im not afraid of Drag Queen Story Hour.. What is scary is every single day when I drop my kids off at school, will I see them come home? When Iowas ban on gender-affirming care for minors took effect in March 2023, Veronica was in the midst of treatment and only had a few months to find an out-of-state option or stop her treatment. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Veronicas mom, Emily, shared, You never think, as a mom, I cant wait for my kid to grow up and leave the state, but thats where Im at right now.Emily said that she knew Veronica was trans before she came out, she realized when she saw a trans woman speak at class she was taking in 2017. It was like I was hit by a bolt of lightning. I was like, This is my child. I know this in my soul, in my heart. [After that] I was kind of just waiting to hear I wasnt pushing it, but I just knew.Veronica has faced cruel comments from classmates and neighbors, and her mom has had to fight to change her name in the high schools system. Theres no good option for which bathroom to use at school. Emily says neighbors and classmates have made cruel comments. Speaking to her daughter, Emily said, I cant wait for you to find your people, your support, your health care providers everything you need. I want that for you, even if its far away.For most families, moving away wasnt an option. Veronica has three young siblings, and her father and grandparents all live in Iowa. So she and her mom decided that every couple of months they would have to travel 450 miles so Veronica could continue getting treatment. When Iowas ban took effect, Veronica was taking puberty blockers. She had come out as trans to her friends three years ago and her parents and siblings two years ago. If she were to stop taking the puberty blockers, male puberty would have restarted, meaning some bodily changes such as voice deepening, the growth of her Adams apple, facial hair, shoulder-broadening, and more would have taken effect and permanently changed her body in a way that would have exacerbated her gender dysphoria. She still gets puberty-blocking shots, which is what she travels to Minnesota for every couple of months. In December of last year, her new doctor started her on hormone therapy, taking daily pills of estradiol, a type of estrogen, while she continued getting puberty blocker shots to keep her testosterone levels down. The family also has to get her estrogen pills at a clinic in Minnesota, as refills are banned in Iowa.While Veronica said, I feel like its helped me feel a lot better about my body, her mom has other reasons for why shes glad her daughter can continue treatment: if she looks like a cisgender woman shes less likely to be the target of violence or discrimination for being a trans person.Veronicas doctor in Minnesota agrees her mental health seems to have improved since he began seeing her. Shes doing well in an ideal world, I would see her more often, but it is a burden [for her] to get here, he said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.