ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A Georgia woman being kept alive because of Georgia’s controversial fetal heartbeat law turned 31 years old on Sunday.

Adriana Smith has been declared brain dead by doctors since February following a medical emergency. Georgia’s reproductive rights activists are using her story to rally for justice and demand changes to the law.

Advocates tell Atlanta News First they want people and especially lawmakers to know the states abortion laws have been devastating and painful for families.

“It’s hard, it’s going to be a hard day. It’s going to be many hard days,” said Danielle Rodriguez, the Georgia State Coordinator for SisterSong.

It was a somber 31st birthday celebration for Smith, yet with a powerful message.

“Black women and Black birthing people are suffering in this state due to health care providers not being able to provide the care that they know they can,” said Agbo Ikor, the policy and advocacy director for Spark Reproductive Justice.

Adriana is a nurse and mother. Doctors declared her brain dead after a medical emergency in February, when she was about nine weeks pregnant at the time.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Adriana Smith did not need to die, she knew something was wrong,” said Allison Coffman, executive at Amplify Georgia Collaborative.

“Knew her body. Spoke up when something was wrong. And like too many black women, she was not listened to,” said Rodriguez.

Her family said Adriana is being forced to stay on life support due to Georgia’s controversial fetal heartbeat law, which bans abortion after six weeks.

Adriana’s body is being kept alive until doctors can deliver her baby.

“Then the family deserves to be able to consent to the continued care that she received,” said Coffman.

Advocates tell Atlanta News First they speak up for Adriana, and for everyone who has been impacted by the state’s six-week abortion ban.

“Because this fight is not only local, it is global. Across the world, families are grieving, communities are rising. People are demanding the right to live with dignity to be heard, to make decisions for themselves and their loved ones,” said Rodriguez.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams office sent a representative to the 31st celebration.

The spokesperson said they are introducing a resolution in honor of Adriana that would call for changes to the state’s abortion laws. They said the resolution would include clarifying how the law is interpreted in medical settings.

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