Photography by Danny Fulgencio.

Preston Hollow neighbor Eve Wiley, 31, found out that a fertility doctor inseminated her mother with his own sperm rather than the sperm of the donor her mother selected. She thought the act should be a crime so she set about visiting Austin every week to press for legislation that would make it a sexual assault offense if a health care provider implants human sperm, eggs or embryos from an unauthorized donor. “It’s really important to protect vulnerable people,” she says. “You spend a lot of time with those doctors. There’s a lot of trust. You are trusting them, and you are vulnerable.” Wiley is the mother of two young children who spent her weeks traveling by bus to Austin to lobby her cause. Her case recently appeared on ABC’s “20/20”. The result? In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill making fertility fraud a crime in Texas.

Proudest moment: Aside from saying a bleeped and blurred-out curse word on national television, I am most proud of advocating and lobbying for the fertility fraud bill that expands the definition of sexual assault to include the fact pattern of physicians inserting unauthorized reproductive material into a patient. In the current climate of women’s reproductive health, I am incredibly proud of Texas for recognizing fraud and deception as a form of sexual assault. This is about consent, trust, transparency and measurable accountability for bad actors.

Photo by Danny Fulgencio

The best advice she’s ever received: Don’t fry bacon naked. I’m kidding. However, that is good advice. I remember a sixth-grade teacher saying this in class and I still have the sheet of paper torn from my notebook: “Do not be worried about who will be offended when you speak the truth. Worry about who will be deceived, misled, or destroyed if you don’t.” I’m unsure if it was the context, or the new taste of an outside world that resembled nothing of my humble beginnings, but something spoke to me as she preached of strength, honesty and righteousness.

Advice to her younger self: You do you, girl. Only you know what is best for you. Let the noise of everyone else fade into the background.

Her greatest influence: Most recently it has been Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Last year, I read her story to my children from the book “Rebel Girls.” I am inspired by her strength and advocacy for women’s rights. It was very fitting and empowering for me as I was thrust into a role I never wanted but had to do. Growing up in a small, rural town, gender stereotypes are still pronounced. I was always irked by gender inequality and not being taken seriously because I’m female. I am fascinated by strong women in history. In fact, I have only read biographies of women.

How she wants to be remembered: I don’t want to be remembered as the doctor daddy offspring. I was not OK with being a part of the doctor’s legacy. I wanted him to be a part of mine. I want to be remembered as a person who did the right thing no matter how hard or unpopular. We have a duty to leave this place better than when we found it.