Infant with rare heart defect undergoes surgery amid surrogacy dispute
A newborn diagnosed with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome was operated on Monday, while legal battles continue over the surrogacy arrangement and custody claims.
A baby born in Texas with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome underwent a Norwood procedure on Monday, the attorney for the child’s biological parents said. The infant, named Rumi, was delivered by surrogate McKenna West after she declined to terminate the pregnancy despite the parents’ alleged request for an abortion.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion asking a state court to order doctors to perform the surgery, claiming the parents might refuse lifesaving care, an allegation the parents deny. Their lawyer, Lee Budner, described Paxton’s involvement as turning the case into “political theater.”
"Rumi is now recuperating under the loving care of his parents and his heroic team of doctors, nurses, and medical staff," Budner said in a statement.
The Norwood operation is the first of three surgeries typically required for children with the condition, which affects about 925 newborns in the United States each year. Budner added that the family intends to share no further health updates, emphasizing the child’s critical and complex condition and requesting privacy.
The parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, have stated they never intended to refuse treatment and planned to have the baby cared for in California. They also contend that West’s ongoing custody claims are “baseless” and violate court orders in Alaska and California.
"We look forward to quickly defeating those claims as Rumi’s parents continue to focus on his health and safety above all else," Budner said.