Adriana Smith’s family confirmed that the brain-dead nurse delivered her premature baby son via emergency C-section while she was on life support at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital. Smith gave birth to her baby early Friday morning at the same hospital system where she worked as a nurse.
Smith, who was 31 at the time, was declared brain dead in February after nine weeks of pregnancy. Despite her pregnancy, Emory Hospital refused to remove her from a ventilator.
Smith’s family revealed that Emory doctors informed them that they were not permitted to remove Smith from life support due to state law that prohibits abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Smith’s case has sparked emotions and raised concerns about abortion laws and hospitals engaging in political activities.
April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, shared the baby’s weight and condition with WXIA-TV. She stated that the baby, named Chance, weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces. Newkirk expressed her hope for Chance’s recovery, emphasizing that he is simply fighting and that they are seeking prayers for his well-being.
Newkirk shared that Smith cherished her time as a nurse at Emory. However, in February, she experienced severe headaches and was sent home on medication without undergoing any diagnostic tests at Northside Hospital.
The following morning, Smith’s boyfriend discovered her unresponsive and emitting a gurgling noise. She was promptly rushed to Emory Decatur and subsequently transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where she was diagnosed with blood clots in her brain.
Smith has a seven-year-old son who deeply misses her. Her family celebrated her 31st birthday on Sunday.
Faced with the grim reality, the family made the difficult decision to remove Smith from life support on Tuesday.
Newkirk expressed her anguish, stating, “I’m her mother, and I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”
