In a heartrending turn of events, a baby was born early Friday morning to a woman in Georgia who had been declared brain-dead and maintained on life support since February, as disclosed by the mother.
April Newkirk told WXIA-TV that her 31 year old daughter Adriana Smith underwent an emergency caesarean section prematurely on early Friday, a development reported by the Atlanta broadcaster on Monday evening. Approximately six months into her pregnancy, the baby boy named Chance tipped the scales at just 1 pound and 13 ounces and is currently under the care of the neonatal intensive care unit.
“He’s expected to be okay,” Newkirk assured the TV channel. “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him.”
More than four months earlier, Smith was plagued by severe headaches and sought treatment at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital, where she was given medication before being discharged. However, the subsequent day, her boyfriend found her struggling to breathe, prompting a 911 call.
Emory University Hospital later determined she suffered from cerebral blood clots, leading to a brain-dead diagnosis while she was eight weeks pregnant, according to WXIA reports.
Newkirk revealed that, regrettably, Smith would be removed from life support come Tuesday.
Seeking clarification, The Associated Press reached out to Emory on Tuesday, both calling and emailing for comments. The reasons behind Emory’s decision to proceed with delivering the baby remain unexplained.
Attempts by The Associated Press to connect with Newkirk have similarly taken place.
According to Smith’s relatives, Emory’s medical professionals explained they could not terminate the life-preserving measures due to state law prohibiting abortion once cardiac activity is detectable, typically around the sixth week of gestation.
Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr later released a statement clarifying that the law did not necessitate medical professionals to maintain life support for a woman declared brain dead.
“Removing life support is not an action ‘with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy,'” Carr stated.
Newkirk mentioned how much Smith cherished her nursing role at Emory and added that she leaves behind a 7 year old son. Her family, along with several advocacy groups, celebrated what would have been her 31st birthday on Sunday; Newkirk did not address the gathering.
“I’m her mother,” Newkirk disclosed to WXIA, “I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”