New Life Born From Tragedy: Family of Adriana Smith Welcomes Baby Boy Chance
In a bittersweet turn of events, the family of Adriana Smith who was declared brain dead while pregnant welcomes baby boy — and his name is Chance.
Tiktoker Declared Brain Dead After Participating In “Blackout Challenge”
Smith, a beloved nurse from metro Atlanta, was pronounced brain dead back in February after a devastating medical emergency caused by blood clots in her brain. At the time, she was only eight weeks pregnant.
Now, months later, her family is holding on to a sliver of joy. Her mother, April Newkirk, told 11 Alive that Chance was delivered via emergency C-section on Friday, June 13 at 4:41 a.m. The baby weighed just 1 pound, 13 ounces and is currently fighting for his life in the NICU.
“He’s expected to be OK,” Newkirk shared. “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him. He’s here now.”
But while they welcome Chance into the world, the Smith family is also preparing for the unthinkable — saying goodbye to Adriana. Newkirk confirmed that the hospital plans to remove her daughter from life support on Tuesday.
“It’s kind of hard, you know,” Newkirk said through tears. “It’s hard to process.”
A Mother’s Pain, A Grandmother’s Strength
April Newkirk is now stepping into double-duty as a mother grieving her daughter and a grandmother standing strong for her grandbabies.
“I’m her mother,” she said painfully. “I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”
Despite the sorrow, the family gathered recently to honor Adriana’s 31st birthday — a celebration shadowed by grief but filled with love.
“If I could say one more thing to her, I guess I would tell her that I love her and that she was a great daughter.”
Adriana’s fight — even while on life support — touched hearts across the country. She spent nearly four months on machines, giving her unborn baby a fighting chance. Chance is now the living proof of that fight.
The Law, The Confusion, The Consequences
Adriana’s situation didn’t just stop at heartbreak — it sparked outrage. Her case brought attention to Georgia’s House Bill 481, also known as the LIFE Act. The controversial law bans most abortions after cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks. But it doesn’t clearly address what to do when a pregnant woman is declared brain dead.
Smith was declared brain dead on February 19, but doctors continued life support — reportedly due to the abortion law.
“These are not small contradictions. These are life and death contradictions,” said State Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, addressing the legal gray area in a press conference.
The Georgia Attorney General’s Office later clarified the law’s language, stating:
“There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death,” said spokesperson Kara Murray. “Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.”
Still, Emory Healthcare, the hospital overseeing Smith’s care, offered no clear reasoning for their decision. They only mentioned that they considered “Georgia’s abortion laws and all other applicable laws.”
Love, Legacy, and the Fight for Clarity
Adriana’s name now lives through Chance — a baby born into a world already full of battles. But his name is no accident. He is the very definition of what it means to fight for a chance at life.