The family of Adriana Smith, the Georgia woman who was kept on life support until giving birth, is asking for assistance to cover medical fees as her child remains in the intensive care unit. In May, Smith’s mother April Newkirk launched a GoFundMe page, where she has been sharing health updates about her grandson.
Adriana Smith’s son remains in intensive care six months later
Chance, Smith’s son, has been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital since being born on June 13 as his lungs are underdeveloped. He first weighed one pound and 13 ounces. Newkirk shared late last month that the baby boy has now reached a weight of 11 pounds. She also shared that Chance has to be moved to a different hospital in order to receive additional medical care.
“I want everyone to know that im very grateful for you prays and help continue to pray because God has the final say,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Newkirk has received over $560,000 out of her ultimate goal of $600,000. Over 15,000 people have donated to the fundraising so far, with many posting messages in support of the family.
“My heart goes out to you during such a tremendously difficult time. It is encouraging to see the support you are receiving. Please know that we are sending much love with our donations. You are not alone,” one donor wrote.
“It’s wonderful to hear that Chance has so far survived this ordeal and that he is doing a little better. Chance, your family, and (of course) Adriana remain in the world’s prayers. Hopefully the money helps, too,” another person commented.
“I cannot even begin to imagine how Adriana’s family must feel during this horrific time. The inhumanity and injustice of this situation is completely unfathomable. I hope this amazing woman’s family feels the love and warmth surrounding them from all of us strangers. We will never, ever forget her,” another donor added.
Adriana Smith was kept on life support until birth because of Georgia’s “heartbeat law”
In February, 31-year-old nurse Adriana Smith consulted a doctor as she was experiencing a severe headache. Her pain was found to have been caused by blood clots in her brain. Smith was later placed on life support and she was eventually declared to be brain-dead. Yet, Smith was made to carry her child until birth. Chance was born after an emergency C-section was performed on Smith. She was taken off life support days after giving birth.
“We had no say so regarding her lifeless body and unborn child,” Newkirk wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The hospital told Smith’s family they were required to put her on life support due to Georgia’s anti-abortion law, according to CBS News. The state’s 2019 “heartbeat law” is one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country. Georgia bans abortions as soon as a heartbeat is detected, which can be at six weeks before many women know they are pregnant. The law includes exceptions in case of rape and incest if a police report was filed first. It also includes cases in which the mother’s life is in danger or if a fetus is considered to be not viable because of serious medical issues.
“There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death,” a spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr told CBS News. “Removing life support is not an action ‘with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.’”