06/18/2025
this painting is based on S3e9 of Handmaid’s where Natalie is kept as an incubator for her pregnancy.
I’m sure this episode came to mind for many as we learned that Georgia was keeping Adriana Smith’s body alive until her baby could survive on his own. More so when we learned that this was done AGAINST HER FAMILIES WISHES! Since she was declared brain dead in FEBRUARY! Because Georgia prevents abortion after ~6 weeks gestational age. On 2/19 when Adriana was declared brain dead, she was only 8-9 weeks pregnant.
Adriana was finally allowed to be removed from life support yesterday, after medical staff delivered baby Chance by C-section Friday 6/13.
My heart breaks for her family who have spent months in a state of suspended grief, outrage, and fear. My heart breaks for baby Chance, who while expected to survive, was born a being delivered ~3 months premature, which will no doubt have lifelong impacts on him. He will also grow up without his mother, and will one day have to contend with the ethical questions his very existence sparked for an entire nation.
Everyone in this story SUFFERED at the hands of Georgia legislators who felt that upholding a [insert max sarcasm] “LIFE bill” was more important than the dignity, the wishes, the health, and the needs of this family. 😭 No doubt the doctor’s and nurses suffered on all sides of this situation as the compulsory “boots on the ground” for a militant forced-birth movement. Everybody suffered, and will continue to suffer and I’ve been ill about it. I wish nothing but love and light for everyone in Adriana’s family, you deserved better; she deserved better.
Having said that, nothing about this is “pro life” and it should never have happened. Please send out some happy thoughts for baby Chance, and if you’re in Georgia (or even if you aren’t!): BRIAN KEMP IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS FALL. Call your reps, call your friends, call EVERYBODY!
