The family of a woman who was kept on life support to give birth has shared an emotional update on the status of her baby.
Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, tragically passed away after being declared brain-dead.
Despite her condition, medical professionals continued to keep her on life support so that she could carry her pregnancy to a stage where doctors could perform a C-section and deliver her child.
Adriana’s Tragic Medical Emergency
In February 2025, Adriana, a nurse and mother to a seven-year-old son named Chase, suffered a medical emergency that would change her family’s life forever.
After being admitted to the hospital, doctors confirmed in May that Adriana had been brain-dead. At the time, she was nine weeks pregnant.
According to Georgia's strict “heartbeat law,” which prohibits abortion after a detectable heartbeat, Adriana’s pregnancy legally required doctors to keep her alive.
This law mandates that life support be maintained if a fetus has a heartbeat, in order to give the baby the best chance of survival, even when the mother has no chance of recovery.
Her family expressed the emotional turmoil they were going through, stating in a GoFundMe post: "We had no say so regarding her lifeless body and unborn child."
The Birth of Adriana’s Son, Chance
In June, just one month after Adriana was declared brain-dead, her son Chance was delivered prematurely by C-section.
The baby, who weighed only 1lb 13oz at birth, was immediately transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive the critical care he needed.
The same month, Adriana was taken off life support, and her family was able to hold a funeral for her. While the family faced this heartbreaking loss, they also began their journey of supporting Chance as he fought for his life in the NICU.
A Heartbreaking Update on Chance’s Condition
As the holiday season approached, Adriana’s mother, April Newkirk, shared an emotional update on the status of her grandson, Chance.
In a post, she wrote: "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 prayers and help. Continue to pray because God has the final say so."
An earlier update from mid-October had included several photos of Chance, showcasing how he was growing. However, doctors noted that his lungs were still underdeveloped, which meant he would remain in the NICU for continued care until his breathing improved.
The family also shared that Adriana’s son Chase had seen his baby brother for the first time through a video call, a moment that deeply touched the family.
The October post read: "Chance's lungs are underdeveloped, so he will stay in the NICU unit until his breathing gets better. Chase saw his little brother by video. This was a touching moment, thank you all for your prayers and support. Keep praying."
Community Support and Fundraising Efforts
In light of the emotional and financial strain caused by these events, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Adriana's family during this difficult time.
The fundraiser has seen significant support from the community, raising over $550,000 of its $600,000 goal as of the latest update.