Pregnant mom Adriana Smith had undiagnosed blood clots in her brain, ultimately rendering her brain dead in February 2025. At the time, doctors in her home state of Georgia determined her unborn baby was about nine weeks gestation. Because of Georgia Law, doctors legally could not take Smith off life support because abortion is banned once a heartbeat is detected. Despite her family’s pleas to allow Smith to die with dignity, doctors kept her alive because her baby’s development relied on her body.
Emory Healthcare, which runs Emory University Hospital, shared a statement with the Associated Press regarding patient care and legal ramifications.
“[The hospital] uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia’s abortion laws and all other applicable laws,” the statement explained. “Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve.”
On June 13, doctors delivered her premature baby boy, Chance, via emergency C-section, 11 Alive reported. Now, his family hopes he will survive as his mother’s life comes to an end. April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, shared her heartache with the news outlet. Baby Chance weighed less than 2 pounds at birth, but his grandmother said he should be OK.
“He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him. He’s here now,” she said. “I feel like he has a great chance to survive. Yeah. It’s been a rough ride for him. I think he’s going to be well.”
As far as Smith is concerned, Newkirk told the news outlet that the family planned to remove her from life support on June 17. It is a tragic end for a woman who dedicated herself to helping others as a registered nurse.
Newkirk admitted that although she knows it’s best for her daughter to die, her heart hurts not only as her mother but as the grandmother to her newborn and older son, Chase. Newkirk wishes they all had more time.
“Since I left the hospital today, I’m just like tomorrow at 2 o’clock, oh my God, what do I do? Lord, what do I do? How can I make it not happen? I’m her mother. I shouldn’t be burying my daughter,” Newkirk said. “So I’m just trying to hold it together right now. For Chance and Chase. I wish he could smell his mother just one time. You know, lay on her chest, skin to skin. That’s not possible.”
Newkirk created a GoFundMe account to help with ongoing medical expenses. She’s raised more than $245,000 thus far.
