The family of a pregnant woman who was maintained on life support due to state abortion laws provided an update on her baby recently.
Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, experienced a medical crisis in February, and by May, doctors had determined she was brain dead.
Reports indicate that Adriana was dealing with blood clots in her brain after she complained of severe headaches.
Owing to the ‘heartbeat law’ in Georgia, medical professionals were required to keep her on life support to ensure the viability of her baby until delivery.
In June, Adriana’s son, Chance, was delivered early via C-section, weighing just 1lb 13oz, and subsequently moved to a neonatal intensive care unit.
Following the birth, Adriana was removed from life support, allowing her family to say their farewells.
Her mother, April Newkirk, recently provided an update on baby Chance, stating: “It’s holiday season and I’m very down.
“Chance is 11 pounds still in the NIC unit and will not be coming home soon. He going to be moved to a different hospital for more help with his health, and I want everyone to know that I’m very grateful for your prays and help. Continue to pray because God has the final say so.”
Adriana also had a seven-year-old son named Chase.
Georgia’s ‘heartbeat law’ effectively prohibits abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detectable in the womb.
This detection typically occurs around six weeks into the pregnancy, a time when many women may not yet realize they are expecting.
Although the legislation was passed in 2019, it was not enforced until 2022, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States.
At the time, Brian Kemp, Georgia’s Republican governor, stated: “Georgia values life. The legislature’s bold action reaffirms our priorities and who we are as a state.”
The law permits abortion if the mother’s life is at risk, but in Adriana’s situation, doctors felt legally compelled to sustain the pregnancy.
Turning off Adriana’s life support would have been against the law, as her pregnancy was not the factor endangering her, and there was a reasonable possibility that the fetus could survive.
A GoFundMe campaign established to support the family has collected $547,670 of its $600,000 goal at the time of this writing.
If you wish to contribute to the fundraiser, you can do so here.