Atlanta woman Adriana Smith kept alive despite being declared brain dead due to abortion ban

An Atlanta woman who was just nine weeks pregnant when she was declared brain dead nearly three months ago is being kept alive due to the State’s abortion ban.

In early February, 30-year-old nurse Adriana Smith was experiencing intense headaches and visited a local hospital to get checked over.

Her family said no scans were performed, and she was told to go home.

Just hours later, Ms Smith’s partner found her struggling to breathe and making gurgling noises while she slept.

She was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered blood clots in her brain.

Before doctors could perform surgery, Ms Smith was declared brain dead.

Despite no chance of recovery, Ms Smith has been kept alive for more than 90 days so she can carry the baby to full term.

Under Georgia’s 2019 Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, doctors cannot perform an abortion if a heartbeat is detected.

Ms Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, is speaking out about the situation, saying it has been “torture” to see her daughter like this.

“She’s been breathing through machines for more than 90 days,” Ms Newkirk said.

“It’s torture for me. I see my daughter breathing, but she’s not there.”

Ms Newkirk said she believed her grandbaby thought his mum was just sleeping.

It’s understood doctors want to keep Ms Smith alive for another 11 weeks until she reaches 32 weeks in her pregnancy but her mum said that decision will cause a lot of trauma for the family.

“She’s pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he’s born,” Ms Newkirk said.

“This decision should’ve been left to us. Now we’re left wondering what kind of life he’ll have — and we’re going to be the ones raising him.”

“They’re hoping to get the baby to at least 32 weeks. But every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions.”

Ms Newkirk believes the law should change and every woman should have the right to make their own decisions about their body.

“And if not, then their partner or their parents (should be able to make the decision),” Ms Newkirk said.