Baby Gabriel is Born After His Surrogate Mom Protects Him From Abortion

Baby Gabriel was born Wednesday in Texas after his surrogate mother refused demands from the intended parents to abort him following a prenatal diagnosis of a serious but treatable heart condition.

McKenna West, an Alaska nurse and single mother of two, gave birth to the child she had fought to protect.

“Baby Gabriel is doing well, and is now on track to receiving the life-saving medical care he needs,” according to the pro-life group Live Action.

The infant was immediately transported to the NICU for treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a congenital defect diagnosed around 20 weeks of pregnancy in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. Without intervention the condition is typically fatal within days of birth, but it is treatable through staged surgeries beginning shortly after delivery.

Fox News legal editor Kerri Urbahn reported that the baby “is off to the NICU” and is expected to undergo surgery at a facility with a strong track record for the procedure.

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West entered a surrogacy agreement through Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists with California couple Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed. After the HLHS diagnosis, the intended parents invoked an abortion provision in the contract and sought to kill Gabriel.

West refused.

“I knew that I didn’t want to have to go through [an abortion],” she previously said. “I didn’t want for this baby — for his life to be cut short.”

She later said, “I want to fight for him because he deserves that chance. … He deserves a chance of living life outside of my womb.”

In another interview she stated, “Every life matters. No woman should be forced to end the life of the baby she is carrying — including me. … Baby Gabriel should receive a chance at life.”

West relocated to Texas seeking legal protection and access to specialized pediatric cardiac care.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened Tuesday, securing an emergency court order requiring life-saving medical care upon birth and barring the child’s removal from the state while the case proceeds.

“Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care,” Paxton said. “My office will use every tool available to protect innocent lives and ensure that every child receives the care required under Texas law.”

A temporary restraining order issued the day before the birth prevented West from seeing or holding the baby she carried and protected.

The legal dispute over parental rights and medical decision-making continues, with further proceedings scheduled. West has offered to assume responsibility for the child or arrange adoption if the intended parents will not consent to the necessary surgeries.