The family of a brain-dead mom who was kept alive on life support so her unborn baby could be delivered has shared a devastating update.
Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old nurse from Atlanta, Georgia, suffered a catastrophic medical emergency earlier this year while she was in the early stages of pregnancy.
Despite doctors later confirming that she was brain-dead, she was kept on life-sustaining machines for several weeks due to Georgia’s strict abortion laws.
Her family said they were left heartbroken by what they went through, stating they had no control over what happened to Adriana’s body or her pregnancy.
In February, Adriana – who was already a mom to a seven-year-old son named Chase – suffered a sudden medical emergency.
Emory University Hospital determined she had blood clots in her brain, and declared her brain-dead in May.
At the time she was declared brain-dead, Adriana was approximately nine weeks pregnant.
Under Georgia’s so-called ‘heartbeat law,’ medical staff were legally required to keep her body functioning because the fetus still had detectable cardiac activity.
The law severely restricts abortion access and grants legal personhood rights to foetuses from the earliest stages of pregnancy.
This meant Adriana’s family was unable to decide whether life support should be withdrawn, even though she had no chance of recovery.
In a GoFundMe statement, her loved ones said: “We had no say so regarding her lifeless body and unborn child.”
Since the repeal of Roe v Wade in the United States, abortion laws in Georgia have become among the strictest in the country.
The state now only allows termination of a pregnancy in limited circumstances – specifically if it is required to save the pregnant woman’s life, to protect their physical health, or if the fetus is not expected to survive.
Alongside this, ‘fetal personhood’ laws grant full legal rights to a foetus from the moment of conception.
In practical terms, this meant that switching off Adriana’s life support could have resulted in criminal charges, as her pregnancy itself was not considered a threat to her physical health, given that she was already brain-dead.
Doctors were therefore legally compelled to continue keeping her body alive until the baby could be delivered.
For Adriana’s family, this meant her death was not only unavoidable but prolonged for weeks.
In June, one month after Adriana was declared brain-dead, doctors performed a C-section to deliver her baby prematurely.
The baby boy, named Chance, was born weighing just 1-lb 13oz.
Due to his extreme prematurity, he was immediately transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit, where he has remained ever since.
That same month, after Chance was delivered, Adriana was finally taken off life support.
Her family was then able to hold her funeral and begin the process of grieving.
However, the emotional toll did not end there.
Months later, Adriana’s mom, April Newkirk, shared an emotional update on Chance’s condition, revealing that the baby still faces significant health challenges and remains in hospital.
In a recent post, she wrote: “It’s holiday season and I’m very down.
“Chance is 11 pounds still in the NIC unit and will not be coming home soon.
“He [is] going to be moved to a different hospital for more help with his health, and I want everyone to know that I’m very grateful for your [prayers] and help.
“Continue to pray because God has the final say so.”
Earlier updates had offered a small measure of hope.
A post dated 14 October included several photographs of Chance and described him as ‘growing well.’
However, it also confirmed that his lungs are underdeveloped.
April also shared that Chance’s older brother, Chase, had been able to see him via video call for the first time.
She wrote: “Chase saw his little brother by video. This was a touching moment.
“Thank you all for your prayers and support. Keep praying.”
For Adriana’s family, the past few months have been marked by unimaginable loss, uncertainty, and grief.
They not only lost a daughter and mom but also witnessed her death prolonged by legislation they had no power to override.
Her seven-year-old son Chase has had to come to terms with losing his mom while waiting for his baby brother to fight for his life in intensive care.
In response to the family’s growing expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was launched.
At the time of writing, the fundraiser has raised $558,943 towards its $600,000 target.
The fundraising page describes the journey as ‘heartbreaking’ and highlights the ongoing anxiety of Chance’s early months, which is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Adriana’s case has sparked renewed debate across the United States about the real-world consequences of abortion restrictions and foetal personhood laws.
Supporters of stricter laws argue that they protect unborn children, while critics say the legislation can result in prolonged suffering for families and force medical professionals into ethically complex situations.
In Adriana’s case, her family has spoken openly about the pain of being unable to let her die peacefully when her recovery was medically impossible.
Instead, her passing was delayed for weeks while her body was kept functioning solely to sustain the pregnancy.
For now, Adriana’s loved ones remain focused on Chance’s survival and recovery.
If you would like to donate to support Adriana’s family, you can do so by clicking here.
