Adriana Smith was declared brain dead since February and has been on life support ever since
The child of a brain-dead mother has now been delivered by emergency C-section, after her body was kept on life support for months due to Georgia’s abortion laws.
Back in February, Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, began suffering from intense and persistent headaches. They wouldn’t go away, so she sought medical help.
Despite being nine weeks pregnant at the time, Adriana was reportedly sent back home with only pain medication. Sadly, her condition took a turn for the worse the very next day.
The following morning, things became critical. Her boyfriend heard a nurse gasping for air and acted quickly. He rushed Adriana to the hospital, where doctors ran a CT scan and found she had multiple blood clots in her brain.
Tragically, the medical team wasn’t able to save her. She was declared brain dead. But under Georgia’s controversial ‘Heartbeat Bill’, which bans most abortions after six weeks if a fetal heartbeat is detected, Adriana was kept on life support despite her condition.
The law only allows exceptions in rare cases—such as a medical emergency or when the pregnancy is deemed medically futile. This includes if the mother’s life is in danger, her physical health is at risk, or the fetus has no chance of surviving.
Adriana Smith was officially declared brain dead
YouTube/11Alive
This controversial law was first signed in 2019 but only became enforceable in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Since Adriana was no longer considered to be in immediate danger herself, her doctors told the family that they were legally required to keep her body functioning until the fetus reached viability, according to the family’s statements.
Her loved ones described the entire ordeal as emotionally painful. Her mother, April Newkirk, spoke to 11Alive and said: “She’s been breathing through machines for more than 90 days. It’s torture for me. I see my daughter breathing, on a ventilator but she’s not there.”
April had earlier shared that she was deeply worried about her grandson’s health, expressing fears that he might be born blind, unable to walk, or possibly unable to survive at all.
But now, she has confirmed to 11Alive that Adriana gave birth to a baby boy through a premature C-section on Friday, June 13.
The newborn, who has been named Chance, weighed only 1lb 13oz (around 0.8 kg). Despite his small size, doctors believe he is expected to pull through.
Adriana’s mother confirmed her daughter has given birth
YouTube/11Alive
“He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him.” April said, still holding onto hope.
She also mentioned that Adriana would be taken off life support on Tuesday, June 17, finally allowing her to rest.
“It’s hard to process.” she said, before adding: “I’m her mother. I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”
Previously, Newkirk had shared her belief that decisions like this—about keeping someone on life support should be made by close family members, not lawmakers.
She added: “I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision. And if not, then their partner or their parents.”