McKenna West, an Alaska nurse and surrogate mother, refused to abort the child she
was carrying, despite the insistence of the intended parents.
The baby was diagnosed at approximately 20 weeks with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart condition. After receiving the diagnosis, the intended parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, asked West to terminate the pregnancy. She refused and eventually traveled to Texas to give birth and be near physicians experienced in treating children with serious heart conditions. Baby Gabriel, as West refers to him, was born on August 12, 2026, about three weeks before the expected September 2 due date. The Ahmeds maintain that West violated the terms of their surrogacy agreement by refusing the abortion and are seeking damages for that alleged breach. The dispute is now playing out in courts across Alaska, California and Texas, raising questions about the enforceability of the surrogacy agreement, parental rights and the financial consequences of West’s refusal to have an abortion. A California court has recognized Gilkar and Ahmed as the baby’s legal parents, while West continues to challenge the surrogacy agreement and pursue custody in Texas. While the case shines a spotlight on the legal ramifications of surrogacy, it also highlights a reality that Care Net encounters every day: women facing pregnancy decisions while confronting an unknown future. For West, refusing the abortion has meant accepting the possibility of significant repercussions. That willingness to choose life despite difficult circumstances is a theme that is central to Care Net’s message.
In his book, The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must Be Pro Abundant Life, Care Net President and CEO Roland Warren notes the courage exhibited by Mary as she faced an unplanned pregnancy with the baby Jesus.
“Despite uncertainty about her future, she made a choice based on the certainty of what she did know: there was a life growing inside of her—a life worth protecting,” Roland writes.
“Can you imagine how she felt when the angel told her she would conceive? Imagine the uncertainty swirling in her head. She had to wonder what her community would say. How will you take care of this child? She must have feared their shame and judgment. She also had to wonder what Joseph would say. Will he believe me? Will he be angry?” Likewise, Care Net encourages women to emulate the virtue and character of Mary.
“We encourage women to focus on the certainty of what they do know, rather than the uncertainty of what they don’t,” Roland writes. “We pray they understand there’s a life growing inside, and it’s not a life worth sacrificing, but a life worth sacrificing for.”
For West, the life of Baby Gabriel was certainly worth the sacrifice she is enduring. “My focus has always been on protecting this precious baby’s life,” she said. “What matters most now is making sure he gets the life-saving care he will need in the coming
months.” Thankfully, West has not had to journey this arduous road alone. She has received significant legal and political support, with Alliance Defending Freedom providing representation and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervening in the case to advocate for Gabriel’s right to receive medically necessary care. “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,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for.”
According to The Texas Tribune, the child’s biological parents consented to his medical treatment, and he underwent the first of many heart surgeries on August 17. He remains in critical condition. While the circumstances in West’s case are extraordinary, the reality is that most women facing pregnancy decisions do not have such a strong support system. They are often alone and scared as they contemplate what comes next. Let this case serve as a reminder of the difference support can make when a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy finds the compassion and care available at pregnancy centers. Let it remind us that we can be Pro Abundant Life advocates who pray, volunteer and give generously to inspire courage in moms and dads.
Guest Articles
To submit a guest article to the Care Net blog, email press@care-net.org with an attached Word document between 800 and 1,000 words. Please include relevant photos as separate attachments if you own the rights to them. If your submission is selected for publication, our editorial team will reach out within three weeks. Guest contributions are voluntary. Thank you for your passion for life and interest in sharing your voice with the Care Net community!
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