Who is Adriana Smith? Brain-dead pregnant woman from Georgia, who was on life support for four months, delivers child

After nearly four months of being declared brain dead during her pregnancy, a woman in Georgia gave birth on Friday, and her family is now making arrangements to take her off life support this week, as per NBC News. On February 19, Adriana Smith, a registered nurse from Atlanta, was declared brain dead after suffering multiple blood clots in her brain.

The 30-year-old nurse and mother from Georgia was declared dead a month ago, but she was put on life support. The decision to put her on life support was not because of a medical decision made with her family, but because she was pregnant.

Following this, her loved ones demanded answers about Georgia's strict abortion laws and why they were excluded from the decisions about her care. But was Adriana Smith?

NEW: Adriana Smith's family shared this with us today. They show her final moments on life support, and a tragic goodbye with her son Chase.

Smith was pregnant but past Georgia's six week limit on abortions when she was declared brain dead. Dr's delivered her baby on Friday pic.twitter.com/OdbBpNTtVx

¡ª Doug Reardon (@ReardonReports) June 17, 2025

Who was Adriana Smith?

Adriana Smith was a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Smith was about nine weeks pregnant when she began experiencing severe headaches in February.

Later, she went to Northside Hospital seeking help but was released after being given medication. According to the mother, April Newkirk, no scans or tests were conducted; however, the next morning, Smith's boyfriend noticed that she was gasping and gargling in her sleep.

While all the symptoms indicated internal bleeding, this was when she was rushed to the hospital that doctors declared her brain dead.

Credit: X | @resilient333

Adriana Smith's baby is alive and has been in the neonatal intensive care unit

According to Adriana Smith's family, Smith delivered her baby on Friday, who was born prematurely through emergency cesarean section.

Smith's mother, Newkirk, told NBC that the baby weighed about 1 pound, 13 ounces and is in the neonatal intensive care unit.

BREAKING:

Adriana Smith, a woman on life support to save her unborn child, delivered her baby boy today. His name is Chance.

He was born prematurely, weighing just 1 lb 13 oz.

¡°He¡¯s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him.¡±

Pray for Chance. ? pic.twitter.com/mRV6Kr6cjc

¡ª Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) June 18, 2025

Is it possible for a brain-dead woman to carry and deliver a baby?

According to the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, brain death during pregnancy may, in certain cases, warrant maternal somatic support to sustain the pregnancy and improve the chance of fetal survival and health.

The study shows a systematic review of existing literature on cases where brain-dead pregnant women were kept on life support to prolong gestation and evaluate perinatal outcomes.

Smith¡¯s case sheds light on the legal and ethical grey zones

As doctors declared her brain dead, doctors planned to keep her on life support until the fetus is considered viable at around 32 weeks, but the health of the baby is uncertain.

Smith¡¯s case highlights a legal and ethical grey area. After the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, Georgia implemented a law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The legislation states that no abortion can be carried out if a fetal heartbeat is detected, except in cases of a medical emergency or when the pregnancy is deemed medically futile.

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