How a Headache Became a National Crisis

The Adriana Smith Timeline: From First Symptoms to Forced Life Support and a Baby Born Too Soon

Adriana Smith was 30 years old. A nurse. A mother. And newly pregnant when she began experiencing a sudden, unrelenting headache in early February 2025.

She knew something wasn’t right.

She sought help. Twice.

She was discharged. Twice.

By the time she was taken seriously, it was already too late.

What followed wasn’t just a medical tragedy—it became a legal and ethical nightmare. One that ended with a premature birth, a grieving family, and a nation grappling with the consequences of post-Roe politics.

Here’s how it unfolded.

📅 Adriana Smith Timeline: February – June 2025

Early February 2025

Adriana, approximately 8–9 weeks pregnant, experiences a severe headache and seeks emergency care at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. She is discharged without any imaging or neurological evaluation. According to her family, this was the first of two hospitals that sent her home despite her severe symptoms .

Key moment: No CT scan or MRI is performed. She’s sent home with medication.