Nationwide — Adriana Smith of Atlanta, Georgia, was declared brain dead earlier this year after a sudden medical emergency, and her mother is now raising her voice while caring for her daughter’s newborn son, Chance. Smith, who was only eight weeks pregnant at the time of the emergency, was kept on life support for months until doctors could deliver her baby boy in June. Her tragic death has left a lasting impact on her family, her 7-year-old son Chase, and the wider community.

According to 11 Alive, Chance, born weighing just under five pounds, continues to fight for survival in a Georgia hospital. His grandmother, April Newkirk, and great-grandmother, Thelma Edmondson, remain by his side, praying for his progress. Doctors are watching his breathing closely and working to help him gain enough weight so that he may be able to leave the hospital by late September or October. Each day brings small signs of progress, and his family remains hopeful.

The heartbreak of losing Adriana Smith has left Newkirk struggling with daily grief. “It’s not getting any better day by day,” she said. “Something’s been taken away from us, and I think about her every day, all the time.” Meanwhile, young Chase, Adriana’s oldest child, is learning to cope with his mother’s absence with the help of counseling and strong family support.

Beyond their personal pain, the family’s story has drawn national attention because of Georgia’s abortion law, known as the LIFE Act. Smith’s relatives believe the law forced doctors to keep her on life support due to her pregnancy, even after she was declared brain dead. The law bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected at about six weeks but does not provide clear guidance in cases involving brain death. State officials argue the law does not mandate life support under such circumstances, yet legal experts say the legislation leaves too many unanswered questions.

For Newkirk, her daughter’s tragedy has become a call to action. “This didn’t have to happen,” she said. “The law needs to be changed. Women have rights; it’s their body.” Her grandmother, Thelma Edmondson, echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for citizens to vote for change and push back against harmful legislation.

As baby Chance fights to grow stronger, his family is balancing hope with advocacy. For Newkirk, speaking out is a way to honor her daughter while working to protect other families from facing a similar ordeal. “I would like to see young women stop dying,” she said, a plea that reflects both her heartbreak and her determination to bring change.