Nationwide — The family of Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old African American mother from Atlanta, Georgia, says she was declared brain dead over 90 days ago but remains on life support because she’s pregnant. Georgia law requires her to be kept alive until the baby can survive outside the womb.
Smith, a registered nurse, became seriously ill in early February while nearly nine weeks pregnant. After suffering intense headaches, she sought treatment at a hospital but was sent home without a CT scan.
The next day, Smith’s boyfriend found her struggling to breathe and called 911. She was taken to Emory Decatur and then transferred to Emory University Hospital, where she worked. A CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain. Doctors attempted to relieve the pressure, but were unsuccessful. Smith was declared brain dead.
Her family has remained by her side, including her young son, who still believes his mom is just sleeping. “She’s been breathing through machines for more than 90 days,” her mother, April Newkirk, told 11 Alive. “It’s torture for me. I see my daughter breathing, but she’s not there. And her son — I bring him to see her.”
Smith was recently moved to Emory Midtown, which is better equipped to care for her pregnancy. Doctors plan to keep her on life support until the fetus reaches 32 weeks — about 11 more weeks from now.
Under Georgia’s heartbeat law, abortion is banned once fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks. The law has few exceptions. Since Smith is legally brain dead and no longer considered at risk, doctors are required to maintain life support until the fetus is viable. The family says they were not given any choice in the matter.
Newkirk says the lack of control has deepened their trauma. Doctors have also warned that the baby may face serious complications, including fluid on the brain and possible long-term disabilities.
“She’s pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he’s born,” Newkirk said. “This decision should’ve been left to us. Now we’re left wondering what kind of life he’ll have — and we’re going to be the ones raising him.”
With hospital bills rising and no clear end in sight, the family is holding on — waiting, worrying, and calling for change.
“Every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions,” Newkirk said.