A legal battle continues over an infant boy born in Texas after his surrogate mother refused to terminate the baby at the biological parents’ request.
The child’s biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed or Los Angeles, alleged the infant’s surrogate mother, McKenna West, breached their surrogacy agreement by refusing to terminate the baby when he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a life-threatening heart condition, 20 weeks into the pregnancy.
The child, named “Gabriel” by West, “Baby Gabriel” by anti-abortion activists and “Rumi” by his biological parents, is recovering from the first of three heart surgeries while legal battles ensue.
Released surrogacy agreement shows West agreed to terminate at parents’ request
The surrogacy agreement West signed in August 2025 to carry the child, obtained by TMZ, contained a clause that stated West was “clear and knowing in her intention to abide by the request of the Intended Parents concerning the termination of the pregnancy.”
In a lawsuit filed by Gilkar and Ahmed, obtained by TMZ, the couple said West’s refusal to observe the terms of the contract was “malicious” and “outrageous” and caused Nausheen and Omar emotional distress. The couple is suing West for more than $100,000.
West explained her decisions in an interview with pro life activist Lila Rose.
“It was scary facing financial ruin,” West said. “It was scary. But nothing was scarier than questioning my own soul and knowing what would happen to this baby boy if I flew to Seattle.”
“His life doesn’t have a price tag on it, there’s nothing that they could try to come after me for that would be worth his life,” West continued."
West is seeking parental rights in Texas, and a hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25 in Dallas County, according to Fox News. The biological parents currently have custody of the child.
The infant may face ‘lifelong complications’
Rumi is now recovering after the first of three heart surgeries to treat his condition. Surgical repairs are not a cure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and infants with HLHS “may have lifelong complications.”
In addition to the surgery done within the first two weeks of the baby’s life, infants with the heart synbdrome require a second surgery between 4 and 6 months of age and a third between 18 months and 3 years.
In a statement to the Dallas Morning News, Budner, the couple’s lawyer, said Rumi’s condition “remains critical and complex.”
The family will not be providing future updates on the infant’s health while they seek “privacy in caring for their son on his long road to recovery,” Budner added.