A Dallas surrogate’s baby, born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, has just undergone the first of three life‑saving surgeries. The operation marks a critical step in the infant’s fight for survival.
Medical Milestone
CBS News reported Monday that the infant, identified as Rumi, underwent the Norwood procedure to treat HLHS, a condition requiring three staged operations. The surgery was performed Monday morning by a medical team confirmed eligible for the procedure, according to the family’s attorney.
Legal Battle
The biological parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, initially demanded an abortion after the 20‑week diagnosis, The Daily Wire reported. They later filed court papers alleging that the surrogate, McKenna West, reversed her stance and cut off contact, prompting a temporary restraining order that bars her from making medical decisions for the child, court filings show.
Surrogate’s Position
West, a single mother of two who became pregnant through IVF, refused the termination demand and fled to Texas, where state law designates the gestational mother as the legal parent, Live Action News reported. She argued that the fetus’s life has no price tag, saying she would bear the $200,000 cost herself, according to an interview with Lila Rose, president of Live Action.
Contractual Context
Most surrogacy agreements grant intended parents veto power over termination, Surrogate.com noted, but refusing such a directive can trigger financial and legal penalties. West’s contract did not prevent her from changing her mind, yet the court’s order now limits her authority over the newborn’s care.
Next Steps
Lincoln Wilson, West’s attorney, told The Texas Tribune that his client remains the lawful parent because she gave birth in Texas and should retain custody. A hearing on the custody dispute is scheduled for August 25, the court announced.
