A surrogate mother who says she was pressured to end her pregnancy after the biological parents discovered a severe heart defect has given birth in Texas.
As per The Texas Tribune, the surrogate mother, McKenna West, is from Alaska, and the two biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, are from California. A July filing from an Alaska court indicates that West, Gilkar and Ahmed were initially in agreement to terminate the pregnancy due to a diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
According to the CDC, 95% of babies born with HLHS die within the first few weeks of life if it is untreated. If immediate multiple complex surgeries are performed soon after birth, the chances of survival rise, though the child is typically left with neurodevelopmental issues and motor delay for the rest of their lives, and is at an increased risk of heart failure as an adult.
“She then unilaterally changed her mind”
As per a filing from Gilkar and Ahmed’s attorney Lee Budner, “After heartbreaking consultations with medical providers and their own research about the suffering and quality of life HLHS babies endure, A.B. and C.D. (birth parents) made the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy.”
The filing then explains that West changed her mind: “It is undisputed that West initially agreed and that she herself made the initial appointment. She then unilaterally changed her mind, cut off all contact with A.B. and C.D., and withdrew medical releases allowing A.B. and C.D. to have contact with all medical providers.”
West alleges that Gilkar and Ahmed had put pressure on her to terminate the pregnancy, something they both deny. West then fled to Texas, just one of many states where abortion is now illegal and mothers’ lives are at risk.
She appeared on the Megyn Kelly podcast last week, saying that she’d always believed that “if something came up … termination would not be their first choice”. She added: “I felt very trapped due to this contract. I felt like I had no voice. But I knew in my soul, in my heart that I wanted to protect this little boy.”
She has now given birth to Gabriel and Budner confirmed that “Our clients’ child was born earlier this morning and he is now receiving medical care provided by a team of pediatric experts.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also intervened, placing an order that prevents the then-fetus from being removed from Texas and mandating that hospitals provide life-saving care, saying:
“The court has made the right decision in immediately acting to protect baby Gabriel’s life and ensure he receives the care he deserves. My office utilized every tool at our disposal to protect life, and we will not back down in continuing to support baby Gabriel’s well-being. Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for.”
A court hearing to decide what happens next will reportedly take place later this month. Ahmed and Gilkar are currently recognized as the baby’s legal parents (and a California court has granted them a judgment recognizing their parental rights), while a Dallas court has granted a temporary restraining order barring West from presenting herself as Gabriel’s parent.
In another dramatic case revolving around abortion rights, an anti-abortion Florida congresswoman was denied abortion care and her life was in danger, so she called the governor’s office for help.
Published: Aug 13, 2026 05:43 am