Baby Gabriel undergoes first heart surgery after surrogate mother refused abortion request
The child’s case sparked intervention from Texas officials seeking to ensure that he received lifesaving care after birth.
Baby Gabriel, whose surrogate mother carried him to term after refusing his biological parents’ request for an abortion, underwent the first of three planned heart surgeries Aug. 17.
Doctors performed a “complex palliative heart surgery” to begin treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a life-threatening condition affecting the development of the heart, ABC7 reported.
Gabriel is recovering with his biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, who, according to the outlet, have custody of the child.
Their attorney, Lee Budner, described the child’s condition following the surgery.
“His condition remains critical and complex,” Budner said, “and his family seeks privacy in caring for their son on his long road to recovery.”
Gabriel was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome during a 20-week ultrasound, after which his biological parents asked the surrogate mother, McKenna West, to abort him, as Zeale News previously reported. West refused and gave birth Aug. 12 in Dallas after relocating from Alaska to Texas to be near a hospital equipped to treat the child.
As of Aug. 12, according to The Texas Tribune, West is seeking recognition as Gabriel’s legal parent in Texas. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.
>> Baby boy born in Texas after surrogate mother refused intended parents’ request to abort him <<
