The baby boy born to a surrogate, who refused to abort the child despite his biological parents’ wishes, has undergone major heart surgery as part of his ‘long road to recovery.’
The baby McKenna West was carrying remains in ‘critical and complex’ condition after going into surgery on Monday morning in Texas.
West, 28, gave birth to ‘Baby Gabriel’ on August 12 following a battle with his biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, who wanted to abort him after a 20-week scan revealed he suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
However, the surrogate refused the abortion and sought to give birth in a Texas hospital that boasted a recent 100 percent success rate in the surgeries required to treat the life-threatening heart condition.
Now, Gilkar and Ahmed’s attorney has confirmed that the child, who they have named Rumi, underwent the Norwood procedure, which is a major heart surgery.
Attorney Lee Budner told TMZ that Rumi ‘is now recuperating under the loving care of his parents and his heroic team of doctors, nurses and medical staff.’
‘This is the last update on Rumi’s health that his family intends to share. His condition remains critical and complex, and his family seeks privacy in caring for their son on his long road to recovery,’ Budner added.
Rumi’s surgery was the first of three that are required within the first few years in the life of a child diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
The baby born to McKenna West, the surrogate mother who refused to abort the child despite his biological parents’ wishes, underwent major heart surgery on Monday morning
Meanwhile, Budner told the outlet that West has continued to stake a claim for custody of the baby, with allegations that he referred to as ‘baseless’ and ‘in violation of multiple court records out of both Alaska and California.’
‘We look forward to quickly defeating those claims as Rumi’s parents continue to focus on his health and safety above all else,’ the attorney continued.
Gilkar, 43, and Ahmed, 45, took physical custody of their newborn son after West gave birth to him.
The baby was diagnosed with the defect during West’s 20-week scan. The condition means that the left side of his heart is too small and cannot pump blood to the rest of his body.
The story quickly caught the country’s attention, and just one day before his birth, West was granted clearance to get life-saving care for the baby in Texas, but she was forbidden to have contact with the child after his birth, a judge ruled.
After the child was born, Lincoln Wilson, West’s attorney, told the Dallas Morning News that he received life-saving surgery immediately.
According to the child’s parents’ attorney, the couple is ‘devastated’ over the national attention to their son.
The baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome during West’s 20-week scan. The condition means that the left side of his heart is too small and cannot pump blood to the rest of his body
‘As if the heartbreak of his condition were not enough, they are devastated to see their family tragedy transformed into political theater by the Texas Attorney General’s office and McKenna West,’ Budner said.
The child’s biological parents first mentioned that West should get an abortion after learning of the defect.
West signed a contract with the couple that included a clause that would require her to abort the baby in the event of an ‘anomaly.’
The nurse and mother of two from Alaska expressed concern over the clause to the Connecticut-based Worldwide Surrogacy Specialist, but the agency told her a situation like that is rare.
She went on to ask the agency if she could help financially assist the couple regarding care for their child so they wouldn’t abort him, and told his parents she’s heard of people surviving with the condition.
Despite her best efforts, Ahmed told West he and his wife had already removed the baby’s 12-week ultrasound from their fridge at home and told her she could mail the 20-week images – but to address the envelope only to him.
But that’s when West discovered a hospital in Texas that had a 100 percent success rate in recent years with the first of three surgeries an affected baby would need right after birth.
She then told the surrogacy agency that she would live with a friend in Texas to mitigate the costs for the couple, but a liaison for the agency said the biological parents were still concerned about the baby’s future quality of life.
The biological parents went on to file a $250,000 lawsuit demanding that West return the money they had paid her as well as any additional charges
Live Action founder and president Lila Rose (pictured) helped get West and her children to Texas to get life-saving care for the infant
Meanwhile, West, who would have been 24-weeks pregnant at the time of the abortion, was appalled at the idea that doctors would inject the baby with ‘a solution that will stop his heart and then he’ll be literally ripped apart and dismembered as he’s taken from [her] uterus,’ Live Action previously reported.
West was soon put in touch with Live Action founder and president Lila Rose, who assured the surrogate that she would help her and her children get to Texas to meet with doctors about saving the baby’s life.
The biological parents went on to file a $250,000 lawsuit demanding that West return the money they had paid her as well as any additional charges.
They also demanded she come to them in California to give birth, but it was unclear whether they would allow doctors to perform the life-saving surgery or if they would only provide him with ‘comfort care’.
Through her attorneys, West agreed to go to California if the parents commit to providing the baby with surgery.
But West has also filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Alaska seeking sole custody of the baby so she can allow doctors in Texas to treat him.
Alliance Defending Freedom, the firm Wilson works for, issued a statement after taking on West as a client.
‘It’s an honor and privilege to represent McKenna in her courageous stand for Baby Gabriel’s life. Every life matters. No woman should be forced to kill the baby she is carrying, and every child deserves a chance at life.
‘We are thrilled that the court’s order calls for Baby Gabriel to receive the surgery necessary to save his life. And we are so grateful for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s heroic, invaluable efforts to preserve this precious child’s life.’
