Gregory Robinson
The mother of a woman declared brain-dead has shared an update after her grandson was born via C-section.
Ariana Smith, from Atlanta, went to the doctor in February after experiencing headaches. The 31-year-old, who was nine weeks pregnant at the time, was reportedly sent home with some pain medication; however, her condition deteriorated the next day.
When she woke up the next morning, her boyfriend heard her gasping for air and rushed her to hospital. A CT scan discovered that Smith, who worked as a nurse, had multiple blood clots in her brain.
Sadly, the doctors were unable to save her and Smith was declared brain-dead within hours. Smith was kept on life support to sustain her pregnancy due to laws in Georgia's abortion laws.
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She gave birth to a baby boy prematurely via emergency cesarean on June 13, and is now in the neonatal intensive care unit. Weighing just 1lb 13oz, Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, is asking for prayers.
“He’s expected to be OK,” Newkirk told Georgia news station 11Alive. “He’s just fighting. Prayers for him. Just keep praying for him. He’s here now.”
Smith was due to be taken off of life support on Tuesday (June 17), her mother told the local news station. Her story gained attention worldwide because of Georgia’s controversial ‘Heartbeat Bill’, which prohibits the termination of any pregnancy after six weeks gestation if there is a 'detectable human heartbeat'. This is why Smith was placed on life support.
The law was signed in 2019, however, it didn't come into effect until Roe V Wade was overturned in 2022.
Doctors reportedly said that they are legally bound to keep her alive until the fetus can be considered viable, her family claimed.
Smith's family had previously described the 'torture' of witnessing Adriana on a ventilator, with her mom, April Newkirk, telling 11Alive: "She's been breathing through machines for more than 90 days. It's torture for me. I see my daughter breathing on a ventilator but she's not there."
She'd previously expressed concern that her grandson, who has been named Chance, 'may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he's born'.
Newkirk had previously said that the decision to keep someone on life support 'should have been left up to the family', adding: "I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision. And if not, then their partner or their parents."