The story of Adriana Smith isn’t your typical medical drama. It’s heavy. It’s messy. It’s the kind of thing that makes you want to look away, but you can’t because the ethical implications are just too loud. When Adriana, a 31-year-old nurse and mother from Atlanta, was declared brain dead in February 2025, she was nine weeks pregnant. What followed wasn't a peaceful goodbye. Instead, it was a four-month legal and medical tug-of-war that turned a grieving family’s life into a national headline.
Naturally, the internet did what it does best: it started asking questions. The biggest one? Did Adriana Smith’s family want the baby?
Honestly, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s a "yes, but." It’s the "but" that carries all the weight.
The Choice That Wasn't Really a Choice
Let’s get the facts straight. Adriana’s mother, April Newkirk, has been very vocal. She loved her daughter. She loves her grandchildren. But she has been incredibly clear about one thing: the family felt they had zero agency in what happened to Adriana’s body.
When Adriana was declared brain dead following a series of tragic blood clots, the hospital—Emory University Hospital—refused to take her off life support. Why? Because of Georgia’s "heartbeat law" (the LIFE Act). Since there was a detectable fetal heartbeat, the hospital argued that removing life support would essentially be an illegal abortion.
April Newkirk told 11Alive, "We didn't have a choice or a say about it. We want the baby. That’s a part of my daughter. But the decision should have been left to us—not the state."
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That’s the nuance. The family didn't "not want" the child in a heartless way. They wanted the right to decide what was best for Adriana and the potential life she was carrying. Instead, they watched as Adriana’s body was kept "artificially animated" for 126 days.
What the Family Actually Said
- The "Torture" Aspect: April Newkirk described the four-month wait as "torture." Imagine walking into a hospital room for 90+ days, seeing your daughter breathing via a machine, knowing she’s gone, but being told she has to stay "alive" as an incubator.
- The Sibling Factor: Adriana already had a 7-year-old son, Chase. For months, the family had to tell him his mommy was "just sleeping." Can you imagine the psychological toll?
- The Medical Risks: Doctors warned the family early on that a baby gestated in a brain-dead body faces massive risks. We’re talking potential blindness, inability to walk, and severe developmental delays. The family had to prep for a child they weren't sure would even survive birth.
Did Adriana Smith's Family Want the Baby? (The Reality of "Chance")
On June 13, 2025, the baby was born via emergency C-section. They named him Chance.
He was tiny. Just 1 pound, 13 ounces.
If you're looking for proof that the family "wanted" him, look at their actions afterward. They didn't walk away. They didn't put him up for adoption. April Newkirk has been his fiercest advocate, posting updates on GoFundMe and navigating a nightmare of medical bills.
But wanting a child and being forced by the state to bring a child into the world under these specific, harrowing circumstances are two different things. The family’s frustration wasn't directed at the baby; it was directed at a law that stripped them of their right to mourn and their right to make medical decisions for their own kin.
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The Custody Battle You Didn't Hear About
Here's a detail that often gets buried: the legal fight for Chance. In December 2025, the father, Adrian Harden, had to file a lawsuit to gain legal custody. Since he and Adriana weren't married, the state’s involvement made things complicated. His lawyers argued the suit was necessary just to keep the baby out of the foster care system.
Think about that. After everything this family went through—the forced life support, the national scrutiny, the grief—they still had to fight a legal battle just to keep the baby together with his family.
The Staggering Cost of a "Mandated" Life
We need to talk about the money. Keeping a brain-dead person on life support for four months isn't cheap. Add a high-risk NICU stay for a micro-preemie, and you’re looking at a bill that could easily cross the seven-figure mark.
The family was left holding the bag. While groups like Students for Life offered some fundraising support, the bulk of the financial "nightmare" (as some Reddit commenters accurately called it) fell on a family that was already broken.
April Newkirk’s GoFundMe became a lifeline, but it also highlighted the absurdity of the situation. If the state mandates that a body stay on life support, who pays for it? In this case, not the state.
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What the Medical Community Thinks
This case sent shockwaves through the medical world. Bioethicists are still arguing about it. Some say the hospital overcorrected out of fear of the law.
In fact, Georgia’s Attorney General, Chris Carr, eventually put out a statement saying the LIFE Act doesn't actually require doctors to keep a brain-dead person on life support. But by the time that clarification came, the damage was done. The hospital had already made their play, likely to avoid any hint of legal risk.
It leaves us with a terrifying precedent: if a hospital is scared enough of a law, your "right to die with dignity" can be put on hold for months.
Practical Takeaways for Families
This isn't just a sad story; it’s a warning. Here is what we can learn from the Adriana Smith case:
- Advance Directives are Vital: Even if you're young, have your wishes in writing. Specifically, mention what should happen in the event of pregnancy and brain death.
- Understand Your State Laws: Reproductive laws and end-of-life care are now inextricably linked in many parts of the U.S. Knowing the "heartbeat" status in your state matters for more than just abortion access.
- Legal Representation Matters: If a hospital refuses to follow a family's wishes, you need an attorney immediately. The Smiths felt they had "no say," but legal intervention early on might have changed the timeline.
- Support Systems: If you find yourself in a medical-legal gray area, reach out to patient advocacy groups. The Smiths eventually found support through reproductive justice organizations like SisterSong.
Adriana Smith was finally taken off life support on June 17, 2025, four days after Chance was born. She was 31. Her family finally got to bury her, but the questions raised by her "forced" pregnancy will likely be debated in courtrooms and hospital wings for decades.
To help families navigating similar medical ethics crises, you can research local patient advocacy non-profits or consult with a bioethics specialist at a major university hospital to understand how to document end-of-life preferences effectively.
Next Step: You should look into drafting a "Healthcare Power of Attorney" that specifically addresses "prolonged life support for fetal viability" to ensure your family never faces the same lack of agency that Adriana’s did.