Court Case Over Custody of Newborn Following Heart Surgery

<p>A newborn in critical condition following open-heart surgery has been placed back on a breathing tube after his condition worsened, according to court documents filed on August 26, 2026. The intended parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, reported that the baby suffered possible complications after a Norwood procedure, which is used to treat severe heart defects.</p><p>In a Dallas courtroom, Gilkar and Ahmed faced surrogate McKenna West as they disputed who should make medical decisions for the newborn. This case has garnered national attention due to West's refusal of the couple's earlier request to terminate the pregnancy after the baby was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition.</p><p>Gilkar and Ahmed refer to the baby as Rumi, while West, a cardiac nurse from Alaska, calls him Gabriel and is seeking sole conservatorship, which would grant her medical decision-making authority. Gilkar stated in court that they have been at their son’s bedside during his treatment and described the newborn as “the love of our lives.”</p><p>The custody dispute began after the baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at approximately 20 weeks gestation. West claims that Gilkar and Ahmed requested her to terminate the pregnancy, which she refused, leading her to give birth in Texas.</p><p>HLHS is a condition that leaves one side of the heart underdeveloped and disrupts normal blood flow, which can be fatal without treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p>Gilkar and Ahmed consented to the surgery performed on August 17, 2026, which was deemed necessary by doctors. West's legal team has argued for the court to ensure that the baby continues to receive life-saving care, stating that she would withdraw her custody request if the court confirms the intended parents are committed to that care.</p><p>The couple has requested a delay in a hearing regarding a temporary restraining order that currently grants them custody while the legal battle continues. They have also filed counterclaims against West, seeking over $100,000 for alleged breaches of their surrogacy agreement and emotional distress.</p><p>The dispute has intensified since the baby’s birth on August 12, 2026, with West claiming she had only a brief moment with the newborn before he was taken away. A court order currently prohibits her from seeing or holding the baby. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an emergency court order to ensure that necessary medical care is not delayed or obstructed.</p>