Family Says Premature Baby “Fighting” in ICU After Emergency C-Section
Adriana Smith Georgia baby delivered via emergency C-section on June 14 as family navigates state abortion law restrictions.
Her mother, April Newkirk, confirmed that the baby, named Chance, was born prematurely, weighing only 1 pound, 13 ounces. He remains in neonatal intensive care but is expected to survive.
“He’s just fighting. We want prayers for him. Just keep praying,” Newkirk told WXIA-TV in Atlanta.
Background: Adriana Smith’s Georgia Pregnancy Journey
Smith, 31, was hospitalized in February after suffering severe headaches. Her family said she initially sought help at Northside Hospital, where she was released with medication but no scans or tests. A day later, she was found gasping for air. She was rushed to Emory Decatur and then transferred to Emory University Hospital, where scans revealed extensive blood clots in her brain.
Doctors declared her brain-dead shortly after, but under Georgia’s LIFE Act—one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans—Smith’s life support was maintained to preserve the pregnancy.
Legal and Ethical Debate Intensifies
Although the Georgia Attorney General’s Office clarified in May that the LIFE Act does not legally require life support after brain death, it also stated that removing it wouldn’t constitute an act to terminate a pregnancy. Still, Republican State Sen. Ed Setzler, who sponsored the 2019 bill, supported the hospital’s decision.
“I think it highlights the value of innocent human life,” Setzler told the Associated Press.
Smith’s Life Support to Be Discontinued
Smith’s family shared that they plan to discontinue her life support on Tuesday, June 18.
“It’s hard to process,” said Newkirk.
Smith also leaves behind an older son, making the situation even more tragic and complex for the grieving family.
Conclusion: A Tragic Case That Raises Bigger Questions
The Adriana Smith Georgia pregnancy case has become a flashpoint in the national abortion debate. Her baby, Chance, now symbolizes both the fierce legal battles around reproductive health and the human cost of navigating such laws under tragic medical circumstances.
Source: NBC News
