Adriana Smith poses with her son after she finishes graduation. Credit: 11Alive
A baby boy named Chance was born last Friday in Georgia. His mother, 31-year-old Adriana Smith, had been declared brain dead earlier this year. Doctors delivered Chance by caesarean section while keeping Adriana on life support. Her mother, April Newkirk, said Chance is now in the neonatal intensive care unit.
He was born weighing just 1 pound and 13 ounces. April shared that he is fighting hard. "He's expected to be OK," she said. “He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him.”
Mother’s Health Declines Suddenly
In February, Adriana had gone to a hospital with strong headaches. She received medication and returned home. But the next day, she woke up gasping for air. Her family rushed her to Emory University Hospital. There, doctors discovered blood clots in her brain. They declared her brain dead.
At the time, Adriana was still in her second trimester. Her baby’s due date was more than three months away. Because of Georgia’s abortion laws, doctors told the family they could not remove life support.
A Painful Choice No One Wanted
Georgia law bans abortions once a heartbeat is detected, usually at six weeks. Because of this, the hospital kept Adriana’s body on machines to keep the baby alive. The family said they had no choice. They would have preferred to make the decision themselves.
April said in May, “The decision to keep her on life support should have been left up to the family.”
She also worried about the baby’s health. Due to complications, she feared Chance might face challenges like blindness or trouble walking. But she remained hopeful.
A Mother’s Goodbye
April confirmed that the hospital plans to take Adriana off life support on Tuesday. The heartbreak is deep for her. “It’s hard to process,” April said. “I’m her mother. I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”
Though she is mourning, April is staying strong for baby Chance. She asks for prayers and hopes he continues to grow stronger in the NICU.
Legal Background
Georgia’s strict abortion law began in 2019. However, it didn’t take effect until 2022. That happened after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The old ruling had given women the right to an abortion. Now, states can make their own rules.
Hospitals must now follow these laws. Doctors at Emory told the family they legally could not end life support while the baby still had a heartbeat.
A Life Begins as One Ends
Chance's arrival brings some light to an incredibly sad story. Adriana Smith’s life ended too soon, but her baby has now entered the world. The family hopes he grows stronger each day.
