Family released update on baby delivered after doctors kept brain-dead woman alive

Adriana, a nurse and mom to a seven-year-old, was initially admitted to hospital in February 2025, having complained about a headache. Days later, she was found unresponsive.

By May, doctors had sadly confirmed that she was brain-dead, but with Adriana nine weeks pregnant, medics were legally obligated to keep her alive to preserve her baby.

This is due to the state of Georgia’s “heartbeat law”, which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected (typically around week six of a pregnancy).

In a GoFundMe post, her family wrote: “We had no say so regarding her lifeless body and unborn child.”

 

The little boy Adriana was carrying, later named Chance, was delivered prematurely by C-section in June, one month after his mother was declared brain-dead. He weighed just 1lb 13oz at the time of birth and was immediately transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Adriana was taken off life support later in June, and subsequently passed away.

Adriana’s mom, April Newkirk, has since issued a heartbreaking update on Chance, who had to spend months in intensive care due to being extremely premature.

“It’s holiday season and I’m very down,” April began.Continue reading…