Abortion surrogacy fight ends with baby born in Texas
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The gist
A surrogate in Texas gave birth Wednesday to a baby with a heart defect. The legal fight over abortion and parental rights now centers on the infant's custody.
Background
The dispute began when the biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed of California, requested that surrogate McKenna West of Alaska terminate the pregnancy after the fetus was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. West refused and moved to Texas, where anti-abortion activists and Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, securing a court order for life-saving care. The baby was born Wednesday in Dallas and is now in the parents' custody, but West's lawyer vows to fight for parentage under Texas law.
How it unfolded
- months agoThe fetus was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome; the intended parents requested an abortion, which the surrogate refused.
- recentlyMcKenna West moved to Texas, prompting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to intervene and obtain a court order for life-saving care after birth.
- Aug 12, 2026A Dallas judge ordered that the child receive life-saving treatment and remain in Texas.
- Aug 12, 2026The baby was born Wednesday in Dallas; activists called him 'Baby Gabriel,' while the parents named him Rumi.
- Aug 13, 2026The baby is in his parents' custody and receiving medical care; the surrogate's lawyer vows to fight for parentage.
Who’s saying what
- Parents
- The parents' lawyer says they are devastated to see their family tragedy turned into 'political theater' and are focused on the baby's health.
- Surrogate
- Surrogate McKenna West's lawyer says she is the mother under Texas law because she gave birth, and plans to fight to the Supreme Court.
- Attorney General
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, alleging the parents refused to consent to life-saving surgery and sought to bring the child to California.
Still unverified
The parents' alleged refusal to consent to life-saving surgery is disputed; their lawyer did not address it directly, and the parents deny it in court filings.