Adriana Smith was nine weeks pregnant when she began experiencing intense headaches. She went to a hospital and left after receiving medication. Tragically, the Atlanta-based nurse’s condition was much worse than her medical team realized. She had blood clots on her brain, and doctors eventually declared Smith brain dead in February 2025.
Now, more than three months later, Smith’s family says doctors are keeping her alive in accordance with a Georgia law protecting her unborn baby. Her family calls it “torture.”
April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, shared the family’s heartache with 11 Alive. She explained that Smith first sought treatment for severe headaches at Northside Hospital in early February. The grieving mother claims hospital staff gave her daughter medication, but didn’t thoroughly investigate the cause of her pain.
“They gave her some medication, but they didn’t do any tests. No CT scan,” Newkirk told the news outlet. “If they had done that or kept her overnight, they would have caught it. It could have been prevented.”
The following day, Smith’s boyfriend reportedly heard her gasping for air and making gurgling sounds in her sleep. He called 911, and an ambulance took Smith to Emory Decatur Hospital. Staff ultimately transferred her to Emory University Hospital, where doctors made a horrific discovery: Smith, 30, had multiple blood clots on her brain.
“They asked me if I would agree to a procedure to relieve the pressure, and I said yes,” Newkirk recalled to 11 Alive. “Then they called me back and said they couldn’t do it.”
Tragically, staff declared Smith brain dead. In addition to her unborn baby, Smith is the mother of a young son. Newkirk said the family told the boy his mom was sleeping.
“She’s been breathing through machines for more than 90 days,” Newkirk said. “It’s torture for me. I see my daughter breathing, but she’s not there. And her son – I bring him to see her.”
Doctors recently transferred Smith to Emory Midtown Hospital to care for her for the duration of her pregnancy. Because of a Georgia “heartbeat” law, a fetus has legal protection after doctors detect a heartbeat, typically around six weeks gestation. Newkirk told 11 Alive that the fact the family has no options breaks her heart.
“I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision,” Newkirk said. “And if not, then their partner or their parents.”
In Georgia, the law has minimal exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or if the pregnancy creates a life-threatening situation for the mother. Because doctors deemed Smith brain dead, her life no longer weighs in the balance, and her situation has created a lot of gray area. Ultimately, they cannot terminate her pregnancy under state law. She will continue to carry her baby until it can safely survive outside the womb.
“She’s pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he’s born,” Newkirk said, per 11 Alive. “This decision should’ve been left to us. Now we’re left wondering what kind of life he’ll have – and we’re going to be the ones raising him.”
The grandmother added that the financial impact of keeping Smith alive has created tremendous stress on her family.
“They’re hoping to get the baby to at least 32 weeks,” Newkirk said. “But every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions.”
Newkirk launched a GoFundMe account on May 15, 2025, to help with the ongoing medical expenses. She set a $275,000 goal.
“Adriana was only 2 months [pregnant] when placed on support and were given no choice to wait for months to find out the baby will suffer disease which will lead to major disabilities,” Newkirk wrote on the page. “Adriana has 7year old son and family behind left who’s broken and we’re asking for prayers and support during this time.”
