A brain dead Georgia woman who was kept on life support to carry her fetus for months after experiencing a debilitating medical emergency reportedly gave birth to a 1-pound, 13-ounce boy named Chance.
The family of Adriana Smith told Atlanta’s WXIA that the former nurse, who’s been on life support since suffering a malady linked to blood clots in her brain, delivered the child by emergency C-section at 4:41 a.m. Friday at Emory Memorial Hospital.
Smith’s mom, April Newkirk, said Chance is expected to live, while her 31-year-old daughter will now be allowed to die.
“It’s hard to process,” Newkirk tearfully said.
Smith was declared brain dead on Feb. 19, but doctors kept her on life support in accordance with Georgia’s LIFE Act limiting abortion access, according to her family. State law strictly prohibits a pregnancy from being terminated once a fetal heartbeat is detected, generally around six weeks into pregnancy. Smith was eight weeks pregnant when she was hospitalized.
Georgia’s attorney general said in May that the “heartbeat law” shouldn’t apply to Smith’s case. However, the health care company that operates the hospital where she was treated told The Associated Press that “Georgia’s abortion laws and all other applicable laws” were considerations in its staff’s decision process.
“I’m not saying we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy, but I’m saying we should have had a choice,” Newkirk told WXIA.
Smith, who leaves behind a 7-year-old son, was expected to be taken off of life support Tuesday, her family said.
