Family says brain-dead Georgia mom delivers baby

to survive.

“He’s expected to be OK,” April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, told Atlanta 11 Alive. “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying. He’s here now.”

Newkirk confirmed that Smith will be taken off life support on June 17, calling the situation “hard to process”.

In February, while nine weeks pregnant, Smith began experiencing severe health issues. She first sought treatment at a nearby hospital for an intense headache, where doctors treated her and sent her home. The following day, her boyfriend noticed her struggling to breathe and immediately called 911.

A CT scan revealed blood clots in Smith’s brain, and by Feb. 19, doctors had declared her brain dead. But Georgia’s abortion law required doctors to keep her on life support, her mother told 11Alive.

Adrianna Smith was a ray of light

Newkirk said Smith “was a ray of light,” who looked forward to having a baby join her 7-year-old son.

“She loved to travel. She loved her family. She’s a good mom,” Newkirk said. “She wanted to advance her education. She loved people.”

Smith turned 31 over the weekend. Her mom shared a final wish for her daughter.

“If I could say one more thing to her, I guess I would tell her that I love her,” Newkirk said. “She was a great daughter.”

GoFundMe for Adrianna Smith

Newkirk has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Chance and Smith’s 7-year-old son, helping cover medical expenses and long-term care. The fundraiser has already raised over $145,000 toward its $275,000 goal.

Read more on Adriana Smith

• Family honors Adriana Smith one year after death with Atlanta billboard campaign calling for Georgia law reform
• Georgia baby born after mother declared brain dead faces health struggles
• Adriana Smith taken off life support after baby delivered via emergency c-section
• Georgia family seeks support after young mother declared brain dead, kept on life support due to pregnancy