A woman on life support due to being brain dead since February, kept alive under Georgia’s strict abortion law, gave birth prematurely in Atlanta, ending a prolonged medical and legal battle.

On June 13, Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old nurse from Atlanta, delivered a baby boy by C-section, weighing 1 pound 13 ounces. The newborn is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Her family named the baby Chance, hoping he will have a fighting spirit.

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Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, told 11 Alive, “He’s expected to be OK. He’s fighting. We ask for prayers for him. He’s here now.”

She also expressed concern about potential health issues due to the circumstances, mentioning they hope the baby’s name, Chance, will bring good fortune. Meanwhile, Adriana Smith, who celebrated her 31st birthday recently, will soon be taken off life support, her family reported.

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Smith was hospitalized in February after suffering severe headaches. She was nine weeks pregnant at the time and had initially been treated at Emory University Hospital. A CT scan revealed brain blood clots, and her condition worsened until she was declared brain dead. She was then transferred to Emory Midtown, where life-support technologies were used to keep her alive, complying with Georgia’s strict LIFE Act.

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Critics argue that the hospital’s decision to sustain her life was driven by Georgia’s restrictive laws, which prohibit abortions after six weeks and confer full legal rights to fetuses. Her family claims they had no say in her treatment; doctors reportedly kept her alive to comply with the law, a move they describe as inhumane.

Legal and ethical critics, including experts like Steve Ralston, warned that the chance of a healthy baby under these conditions is extremely slim. Many pro-choice advocates condemned the situation as cruelty enabled by restrictive legislation. Reproductive rights groups voiced outrage, insisting families should determine such decisions without state interference.

State officials also responded, with Democrat Rep. Kim Schofield condemning the practice as “sanctioned cruelty.” The hospital has declined to comment publicly, citing patient privacy laws. Smith’s family, including her 7-year-old son, awaited her removal from life support scheduled for Tuesday, according to reports.