As a life-or-death battle over a precious unborn child rages on, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton just stepped in to take direct action.

McKenna West, a single mother and nurse in Alaska, was chosen to be a surrogate mother for a couple in California, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.

However, after learning that the baby boy will be born with a serious but treatable heart condition, the couple is trying to force West to abort him against her will.

The New York Post provided some additional background on the high-stakes case:

A surrogate mother is fighting tooth and nail to save the life of the baby she’s carrying amid relentless pressure from his biological parents, who pushed to abort him after he was diagnosed with a heart condition, a lawsuit claims.

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McKenna West, an Alaskan nurse and single mom of two, signed on to become a surrogate with Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists in September 2025 to make ends meet.

When she underwent an anatomy scan in her 20th week of pregnancy in April 2026, “Baby Gabriel” was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — a severe but treatable heart condition, per the lawsuit.

Baby Gabriel’s biological parents, referred to in court papers only as A.B. and C.D., demanded West abort the baby, in accordance with the “abortion on demand” clause of their surrogacy agreement, according to court docs.

Doctors in Alaska refused to perform the abortion — a two-day-long, highly intensive and risky late-term procedure, so the biological parents demanded West travel to Seattle, per court documents.

West, already bonded with the unborn child, was grief-stricken at the prospect.

She was appalled at the idea that doctors would inject Baby Gabriel with “a solution that will stop his heart and then he’ll be literally ripped apart and dismembered as he’s taken from [her] uterus,” when his condition is treatable, according to the suit.

“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 told The Post in a statement.

To survive, Baby Gabriel will need surgery almost immediately after he is born.

Despite McKenna West promising to take full financial and parental responsibility of the baby, the couple has refused her offer. They are even threatening to sue her for a life-ruining amount of money if she does not get the abortion.

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Despite this, West fled Alaska for Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton has promised to get the baby the life-saving treatment he needs after birth.

On Tuesday morning, Paxton posted this:

The full press release shared by Paxton reads:

Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in a Dallas County parentage case to protect the life of an unborn child who is expected to be born imminently with a serious but treatable heart condition. The Office of the Attorney General has also formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center (“UT Southwestern”) and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas (“Dallas Children’s”) of their legal obligations to provide the baby with medically necessary, life-saving care upon birth.

The child, known as baby Gabriel, was diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (“HLHS”), a serious congenital heart condition. Treatment for HLHS typically involves three staged surgeries, beginning with the Norwood procedure shortly after birth. Based on information provided to the OAG, Gabriel was diagnosed at approximately 20 weeks. After learning of his diagnosis, his intended parents allegedly demanded that the surrogate mother undergo an abortion. The surrogate mother reportedly refused and traveled to Texas for protection. She also sought to ensure that Gabriel could be near doctors experienced in treating his condition. The intended parents have refused to agree that they will consent to the life-saving surgery upon birth and may attempt to transport the child out of Texas to prevent treatment from being administered.

Attorney General Paxton has filed an intervention in the case and asked the district court to enter orders directing the child’s care upon birth, prohibiting his removal from the state, and setting an expedited hearing on any refusal of treatment. In a letter sent to UT Southwestern and Dallas Children’s, Attorney General Paxton laid out the physicians’ independent legal duty to provide the child treatment regardless of how the parentage dispute is ultimately resolved. The letter makes clear that physicians may provide baby Gabriel with emergency life-sustaining treatment without parental consent or a court order. Attorney General Paxton urged the hospitals to provide life-saving care and reject any unlawful transfer of the baby out of state.

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

The Office of the Attorney General will continue to monitor the case closely and pursue all available legal remedies to ensure baby Gabriel receives the treatment that Texas law requires.

Later on that same day, Paxton followed up announcing that he has secured an emergency court order to protect Baby Gabriel:

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That update reads in full:

Less than 24 hours after intervening in a Dallas County parentage case to protect the life of an unborn child, Attorney General Paxton has secured an emergency order that will ensure that the life of the child, baby Gabriel, is protected.

Attorney General Paxton took action in court to ensure the safety of baby Gabriel. In addition, he notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas of their legal obligations to provide the baby with life-saving care. Baby Gabriel was diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which requires surgical intervention shortly after birth. While the surrogate mother of baby Gabriel has traveled to Texas for protection and care for Gabriel, the intended parents have refused to agree that they will consent to the life-saving surgery for Gabriel after he is born. Attorney General Paxton has now secured a legal victory that will ensure baby Gabriel’s life is protected and that care is provided.

Under the court order, life-saving medical care will be provided upon baby Gabriel’s birth and will not be delayed. The order prevents anyone from withholding or obstructing necessary treatment or removing, discharging, or transferring the child while the court considers the case. The hospital and treating physicians must immediately notify the court and all involved parties of the child’s birth, initial medical assessment, any refusal of consent to medically indicated treatment, and any request to discharge, transfer, or transport the child. If medically indicated treatment is refused, the court will hold an emergency hearing to determine whether intervention is warranted under Texas and federal law and to protect the child’s life. The court notes that nothing in this order limits the right of the surrogate mother to make decisions to safeguard her own health or the health of the pregnancy.

“The court has made the right decision in immediately acting to protect baby Gabriel’s life and ensure he receives the care he deserves,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office utilized every tool at our disposal to protect life, and we will not back down in continuing to support baby Gabriel’s well-being. Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for.”

This is such a shocking case.

A mother should always have full rights to protect the life she is carrying inside her.

It’s just plain evil to force a woman to abort the baby growing in her womb.

While Ken Paxton’s intervention is a huge relief and means that nobody can stop Baby Gabriel from getting the surgery he needs once he enters this world, the battle isn’t over yet.

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A court has also granted a temporary restraining order barring McKenna from being in contact with the baby once he is born.

Instead a new “guardian” will be appointed for the child.

BREAKING UPDATE ON SURROGATE MOM & BABY

At the request of Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX, the court has ordered Baby Gabriel receive life-saving care and is appointing a guardian to make sure he receives it.

This is a huge win.

Sadly, the court has also granted a temporary restraining ordering preventing McKenna from contact with the baby after birth.

Baby Gabriel will be torn from the only mother he’s ever known, to face surgery without her comfort or support.

Baby Gabriel is not a product to be passed around from person to person.

He is a human being with rights and emotional as well as physical needs.

The fight must continue for Baby Gabriel.

Please keep McKenna West and Baby Gabriel in your prayers.

May the Lord use this situation for his ultimate good and bless them both.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

 

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