Baby boy born in Texas after surrogate mother refused intended parents’ request to abort him

A baby boy named Gabriel whose surrogate mother refused to abort him was born Aug. 12 in Dallas, Texas, and is receiving medical care for a serious heart condition.

McKenna West carried the child to term, protecting him after the intended parents requested an abortion following a 20-week ultrasound that revealed he had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as Zeale News previously reported.

Lee Budner, an attorney for the child’s biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, told The Texas Tribune in an Aug. 12 report that the couple was with the child at the hospital.

“Our clients’ child was born earlier this morning,” Budner said, “and he is now receiving medical care provided by a team of pediatric experts.”

Before the child’s birth, West spoke about why she had chosen to continue the pregnancy in an interview with Live Action that premiered Aug. 4.

“Nothing was scarier than questioning my own soul, and knowing what would happen to this baby boy if I [had the abortion],” West said. “His life doesn’t have a price tag on it. There’s nothing they could try to come after me for that would be worth his life.”

As Zeale News previously reported, West sought custody to ensure the child received treatment after birth. Her efforts drew support from pro-life advocates and public officials.

Live Action founder and president Lila Rose, who assisted West in relocating to Texas near a hospital equipped to treat the child, praised West for carrying him to term.

“McKenna gave birth,” Rose said in an Aug. 12 X post, “after courageously refusing the contracting parents’ demand that she abort him because of his serious but treatable heart condition.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the case Aug. 11, securing an emergency court order ensuring that the child would receive lifesaving treatment without delay amid a separate court order barring West from making medical decisions for the child or representing herself as his parent.

“Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life,” Paxton said in an Aug. 11 release announcing his office’s intervention, “and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care.”

West’s efforts also drew support from Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, who said she had “demonstrated heroic courage and love for this baby.”

West’s attorney, Lincoln Wilson, confirmed to the Tribune following the birth that she does not have access to the baby.

The dispute over West’s effort to obtain parental rights remains before the courts. According to the Tribune, Gilkar and Ahmed, who reside in California, were previously recognized as the child’s legal parents by a California trial court.

Wilson, however, argues that West has parental rights under Texas law because she gave birth to the child in the state, the outlet reported.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Aug. 25.