A Texas newborn diagnosed with a severe heart defect has undergone complex palliative surgery, his parents' attorney confirmed. The infant, named Rumi, was born Wednesday with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a condition where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.
Rumi had the procedure, identified as a Norwood procedure, on Monday and is now recovering. This surgery is the first of three operations typically required for infants born with HLHS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 925 infants are born annually in the U.S. with HLHS, a condition that can require lifelong care and often results in lifelong disabilities or does not survive infancy.
The case gained public attention when the surrogate mother, McKenna West, refused the biological parents' request to terminate the pregnancy after the diagnosis. The biological parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, stated in court filings that they respected West's decision not to proceed with an abortion. Their attorney, Lee Budner, indicated that the couple had already made arrangements for Rumi's surgery in California.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in the matter, filing a motion to ensure the child received life-saving care. Paxton, a vocal pro-life advocate, alleged that the biological parents might deny the child necessary medical treatment. However, Ahmed and Gilkar's legal team denied this accusation, with their lawyer calling Paxton's involvement "political theater" and a "private family tragedy."
Budner stated that Rumi's condition remains critical and complex, and his family is seeking privacy during his recovery. He also noted that West is pursuing custody claims that he described as "baseless" and in violation of court orders from Alaska and California. The parents are focused on their son's health and safety.