The family of a brain-dead woman who was kept alive on life support to give birth have shared a devastating update, revealing their newborn grandson will not be home for Christmas.
A Mother's Agony and a State's Law
Adriana Smith, 31, from Atlanta, Georgia, suffered a medical emergency in February while nine weeks pregnant. By May, doctors had declared her brain-dead. However, due to stringent abortion laws in Georgia, medics were legally required to continue her life support to preserve the pregnancy.
Georgia's so-called 'heartbeat law' bans most abortions once a detectable fetal heartbeat is found, which can occur as early as six weeks. This meant that despite Adriana's condition, the hospital was obligated to maintain her bodily functions until her baby could be delivered.
A Premature Birth and a Heartbreaking Farewell
In June, Adriana's son, Chance, was delivered via emergency C-section at just 1lb 13oz. He was immediately transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Shortly after the birth, Adriana was taken off life support, and her family were able to hold a funeral.
Now, Adriana's mother, April Newkirk, has posted a poignant update on the family's GoFundMe page, which has raised nearly $560,000 (£419,400) in support. "It's holiday season and I'm very down," Ms Newkirk wrote. "Chance is 11 pounds, [still] in the NICU unit and will not be coming home soon."
She added that the infant is being moved to a different hospital for further specialist care and asked for continued prayers, stating, "God has the final say so."
The Legal Landscape: Roe v Wade Overturned
This tragic situation unfolded in the wake of the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which removed the federal constitutional right to abortion and returned regulatory power to individual states.
In Georgia, a near-total ban signed in 2019 by Governor Brian Kemp was able to take effect after the ruling. The law defines an 'unborn child' as a person, cementing the restrictions that impacted Adriana Smith's care. Exceptions are made for rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk.
In an earlier update in October, Ms Newkirk shared that while Chance was growing, his lungs remained underdeveloped, requiring extended NICU care. The family found a moment of solace when Adriana's other son, Chase, saw his baby brother via video call, a moment described as "touching."
