Georgia Infant Born After Mother Declared Brain Dead Continues to Fight For Survival
ATLANTA, Ga. — The infant son of a Georgia woman who was kept on life support for months after being declared brain dead is still fighting for survival, according to his family.
A Mother’s Death, A Child’s Fight
Adriana Smith was just eight weeks pregnant when a sudden medical emergency left her brain dead earlier this year. Doctors maintained her on life support until June in order to deliver her baby boy, Chance, through an emergency C-section. Smith later passed away, leaving behind both Chance and her older son, 7-year-old Chase.
Now weighing just under five pounds, Chance remains hospitalized as he continues to grow stronger. “His weight is gradually picking up, but the breathing is what we’re concerned with,” said his grandmother, April Newkirk. “So, he’s making a little bit of progress, but still some things to do.”
The family is hopeful Chance may be able to leave the hospital by late September or October.
Family Grieves and Calls for Change
While Chance fights to survive, Smith’s family is grappling with grief. Newkirk said her daughter’s loss weighs heavily. “It’s not getting any better day by day. It’s hard because something’s been taken away from us. I think about her every day, all the time,” she said.
Beyond mourning, Smith’s family has taken on a new mission: advocating against Georgia’s abortion law, known as the LIFE Act. The law bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected at about six weeks and does not clearly address cases involving brain death.
Newkirk believes the law forced doctors to keep her daughter alive. “I want them to know that this didn’t have to happen. The law needs to be changed. It doesn’t need to be altered. It doesn’t need to be in effect at all. Women have rights; it’s their body,” she said.
Legal Questions Remain
The Georgia Attorney General’s Office has stated that the LIFE Act does not require doctors to maintain life support after a patient has been declared brain dead. However, legal experts say the statute leaves crucial questions unanswered, creating confusion for families and hospitals alike.
Generational Push for Reform
Smith’s grandmother, Thelma Edmondson, has also called for political action. “We have to get rid of legislation. We have to get out and vote for positive change. There has to be an awakening,” she said.
Newkirk has begun speaking with lawmakers, hoping her daughter’s story can drive change. “I would like to see young women stop dying,” she added.
For now, the family’s focus remains on Chance’s fight for life — and ensuring that no other family is forced to endure what they have suffered.
Do you believe Georgia’s abortion law should be amended to address cases like Adriana Smith’s? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
