California couple’s surrogate gives birth in Texas after judge orders life-saving care

2026-08-13T00:30:43Z A California couple’s surrogate who went to Texas in an escalating dispute over treating a congenital heart condition gave birth Wednesday, a day after a judge in Dallas ordered life-sustaining care for the newborn. The child was receiving stabilizing care and scheduled to undergo surgery at a Texas hospital, according to an attorney for McKenna West, the surrogate mother whose case has drawn widening national support from right-to-life groups and Republican officials. West was carrying the child for a California couple she has accused of wanting to end the pregnancy after the fetus was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a life-threatening heart condition. A judge on Tuesday ordered the child to receive life-sustaining treatment after Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in support of the surrogate. “She has taken on great personal risk to herself,” said Lincoln Davis Wilson, an attorney for West. The couple, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, have denied in court filings that they intended to refuse surgery once the child was born. Lee Budner, an attorney for the couple, did not immediately return emails and phone messages seeking comment Wednesday. In a statement to The Texas Tribune , Budner said the baby was receiving medical care and accused West and Paxton of turning a family tragedy into “political theater.” “Our clients’ only focus at this time is ensuring that their baby receives the medical care that he vitally needs and that they, as his parents, are able to spend every precious moment they can with him,” Budner said. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome is a condition where the left side of the heart prevents normal blood flow. If untreated, the condition causes severe symptoms such as breathing problems, weak pulse and ashen or bluish skin. (