health
Surrogate mother who fled to Texas gives birth to baby with severe heart defect
McKenna West initially agreed to an abortion after diagnosis, but then fled to state where abortion is illegal and broke contact with biological parents, attorney alleges
TL;DR
- A surrogate mother, McKenna West, gave birth in Texas to a baby boy diagnosed with a severe heart defect.
- The child's biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, confirmed the birth and denied pressuring the surrogate to abort.
- The baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a condition that requires multiple surgeries and may lead to lifelong complications.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the case, supporting the surrogate and alleging the biological parents intended to deny the child medical care.
- The surrogate, West, stated she felt "trapped" by the surrogacy agreement but wanted to protect the baby.
- The biological parents' attorneys claimed West initially agreed to an abortion after medical consultations but later changed her mind and cut off contact.