In Georgia, USA, a baby was born prematurely on Friday morning to Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old woman who had been declared brain-dead and on life support since February. Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, shared the news with WXIA-TV, revealing that the baby, named Chance, was delivered through an emergency cesarean section at roughly six months of gestation and weighs about 1 pound 13 ounces (822 grams). He is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit, with Newkirk expressing hope for his recovery, stating, “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him.”
Smith’s medical ordeal began over four months ago when she experienced severe headaches and sought treatment at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. After being released with medication, she was found gasping for air the following morning, prompting her boyfriend to call emergency services. Subsequent examinations at Emory University Hospital revealed she had blood clots in her brain, leading to her declaration of brain death while she was eight weeks pregnant.
While the family’s intention was to disconnect Smith from life support, state law regarding abortion—restricting it after cardiac activity is detected around six weeks—complicated matters. Newkirk indicated that Emory doctors initially informed the family that they could not remove the life support. However, Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr clarified that the law does not mandate keeping a brain-dead person on life support, stating that removing life support is not the same as one “with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.”
Newkirk detailed the devastating impact of the situation, lamenting the prospect of burying her daughter instead of the natural order of life. She noted that Smith, who worked as a nurse, also has a seven-year-old son. The family recently commemorated Smith’s birthday with advocacy groups, allowing them to draw attention to their struggles. Throughout this ordeal, Newkirk conveyed her deep love and concern for her daughter and the new life brought into the world under tragic circumstances, highlighting their fight for both Smith’s legacy and baby Chance’s future.