Baby Gabriel has been born in Texas after a surrogate carrying him for a California couple refused their orders for an abortion because of a heart defect that is treatable.
The case burst into the headlines just days ago when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton obtained a court order allowing the birth, providing for medical treatment and preventing the newborn from being removed from the state.
He was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome—a rare but treatable condition.
Surrogate McKenna West refused the duo’s abortion demands and traveled to Texas, where by state law she is recognized as his custodian.
Gabriel, born Wednesday, now is receiving stabilizing treatment ahead of surgery.
🚨 UPDATE: BABY GABRIEL IS STILL ALIVE 🙏
Surrogate mother was ordered to abort the baby after a heart condition was diagnosed at 20 weeks.
She refused.
She fled to Texas, where the law recognizes her as the birth mother.
AG Ken Paxton stepped in, blocked any attempt to… https://t.co/vPpPcLV45Q
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) August 13, 2026
McKenna is a surrogate mom who was asked to abort and refused.
She saved Baby Gabriel’s life.
McKenna has given birth and Baby Gabriel is now on track to receiving the life-saving medical care he needs.
Sadly, a temporary restraining order issued yesterday prevented McKenna… pic.twitter.com/oihVGH6EJN
— Live Action (@LiveAction) August 12, 2026
A surrogate mother defied the biological parents’ order to abort a baby diagnosed with a severe heart defect.
The woman, McKenna West, has now given birth to the baby, Gabriel.@Kerri_Kupec says baby Gabriel is in a Texas NICU, where doctors could soon perform potentially… pic.twitter.com/wFyGkXByRH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 13, 2026
The Dallas Express reported West’s lawyer, Lincoln Wilson, confirmed the birth and said the child will be treated for the heart condition.
The order Paxton obtained provided that UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas treat his condition.
“The order prohibits anyone from withholding or obstructing necessary treatment or removing, discharging or transferring the baby while the court considers the case,” the report said.
West traveled to Texas to be near facilities that treated the condition after she, as a surrogate for Californians identified in reports as Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmad, was told to abort the child.
West refused and instead researched treatment options.
The intended parents now have launched legal proceedings in their fight against her.
WorldNetDaily reported when Paxton sought, and obtained, court protection for the then-unborn child.
I secured an emergency court order ensuring that baby Gabriel receives life-saving care in Texas. pic.twitter.com/Yv84BFoFi7
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 12, 2026
He explained the order ensures Gabriel’s life is protected.
“Under the court order, life-saving medical care will be provided upon baby Gabriel’s birth and will not be delayed,” he said. “The order prevents anyone from withholding or obstructing necessary treatment or removing, discharging, or transferring the child while the court considers the case.”
BREAKING: I am fighting to save an unborn child diagnosed with a treatable heart condition and am demanding that Dallas hospitals provide life-saving care. pic.twitter.com/GWjEzRqYrk
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 11, 2026
Dr. Eithan Haim, who called for Texas authorities to step up, had provided the background:
“A California couple demanded the surrogate mother abort the baby, Gabriel, after he was diagnosed with a treatable heart condition. HLHS. The surrogate mother refused – she offered to adopt and raise the baby. They are now at (a hospital) in Dallas, which has a near 100% success rate for treating this type of heart condition. Despite this, the parents are demanding the surrogate give the baby to them in California after Gabriel is born. What will they do with that baby? ‘Palliative care.’”
Haim explained, “This is just a euphemism for murder, infanticide – because they see baby Gabriel as material product they bought and incubated in a peasant woman, there is no problem for them to throw it out in the garbage.”
