Surrogate McKenna West continues fight for medical custody of heart defect baby

Key Points:

• The critically ill newborn, diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), was placed back on a breathing tube after complications following a Norwood procedure, according to court documents and intended parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.
• A custody battle is ongoing in Dallas between the intended parents and surrogate McKenna West, who refused to terminate the pregnancy and is seeking sole conservatorship to make medical decisions for the baby.
• The couple alleges West is attempting to take the baby from them, while West’s lawyers emphasize the importance of continued life-saving care and have indicated she would drop her custody claim if the parents commit to that care.
• Legal disputes also include counterclaims by Gilkar and Ahmed against West for breach of surrogacy agreement and emotional distress, with West denying wrongdoing and seeking dismissal of the claims.
• A court order currently bars West from seeing or holding the baby, and the judge has postponed decisions on custody and conservatorship; Texas authorities have mandated that medical facilities provide necessary life-saving treatment.