08/13/2026
Baby Gabriel was born in Texas on Wednesday after his surrogate mother bravely refused demands from his biological parents to abort him over a treatable heart condition.
His birth comes one day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped in to secure legal protections ensuring the baby would receive life-saving care.
Immediately following his birth, the newborn was transported to the NICU for treatment of his hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital defect that had been diagnosed at around 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The surrogate, McKenna West, an Alaskan nurse and single mother of two, had entered into a surrogacy agreement through Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists with the California couple, identified in court documents as Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.
The pregnancy proceeded normally until the anatomy scan revealed the diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped and unable to pump oxygen-rich blood effectively.
She researched the condition, learned of the expertise available in Texas, and relocated to Dallas County seeking both the legal protections given to the unborn under Texas law and access to medical teams experienced in treating the defect.
West even offered to assume full responsibility for the child or arrange adoption, releasing the couple from further obligations, but the biological parents rejected her plea.
Instead, the "parents" pursued legal action aiming to compel her to give birth in California, where they could withhold consent for the necessary surgeries to save his life.
They wanted to let him die.
Paxton’s office stepped in the day before Baby Gabriel's birth.
The Attorney General formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas of their legal duty to provide medically necessary, life-saving care upon birth regardless of the parentage dispute’s outcome.
Paxton filed a motion asking the district court to issue orders directing the baby’s medical care upon birth, barring his removal from the state, and setting an expedited hearing if the intended parents refuse consent for treatment.
His office also formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas of their legal obligation under Texas law to provide medically necessary, life-saving care, noting that physicians may administer emergency life-sustaining treatment without parental consent or a court order and urging the hospitals to reject any attempt to transfer the newborn out of state.
Paxton stated, “Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care. My office will use every tool available to protect innocent lives and ensure that every child receives the care required under Texas law.”
Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care... My office will use every tool available to protect innocent lives and ensure that every child receives the care required under Texas law.
