A surrogacy arrangement has devolved into a legal confrontation, with the surrogate mother, McKenna West, and the biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, clashing over the infant's name. West, an Alaska-based nurse, is being sued by the California couple for breach of contract, with the latest dispute centering on the name given to the newborn.
West has referred to the infant as Gabriel, while Gilkar and Ahmed have identified the child as Rumi in court filings. The couple claims West's use of the name Gabriel violates their surrogacy agreement, asserting that the contract allows them to name any child born under its terms and to have that name placed on the birth certificate. West contends that Gabriel is merely a nickname and does not prevent the parents from naming the child Rumi on the official documentation. She also stated that a California judge advised both parties against using either name, suggesting it could be distressing.
The legal fight is part of broader claims where Gilkar and Ahmed are seeking over $100,000 in damages. The couple alleges that West agreed to an abortion after the child was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition where one side of the heart is underdeveloped. According to court documents, they claim West initially agreed to the procedure and even made the appointment but later changed her mind and ceased communication. The contract West signed reportedly included a clause requiring abortion in the event of an 'anomaly.'
Furthermore, the parents claim West's decision to relocate to Texas, where the baby was born, rather than California, as planned for specialized cardiac treatment, has been detrimental. They argue this forces the newborn to receive care in one state and then be transferred to another, away from their specialized medical team in Los Angeles.
West, however, found a hospital in Texas with a reported 100 percent success rate for the first of three necessary surgeries. She was connected with Lila Rose, founder of the anti-abortion group Live Action, who assisted her in arranging care in Texas. Days before the birth, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, stating his office was acting to 'protect baby Gabriel's life' by ensuring the medical centers involved understood their legal obligations to provide life-saving care. Paxton accused Gilkar and Ahmed of refusing consent for the baby's life-saving surgery.
An associate judge issued a temporary restraining order to ensure the newborn received necessary treatment but also prohibited West from having contact with the child post-birth. The child has since undergone the first of three required heart surgeries, known as the Norwood procedure. The couple's attorney stated the newborn is recuperating under the care of his parents and medical staff, and that the family seeks privacy as they manage his critical condition. West confirmed the surgery was successful and expressed that her priority remains ensuring the baby receives the life-saving care the other parties are contesting in court.