Surrogate in legal battle with couple after they requested abortion chose name for newborn baby
A surrogate involved in a legal dispute with a couple who asked her to have an abortion has revealed the name she chose for the baby through her lawyer. However the biological parents have chosen a different name, according to their legal representative.
McKenna West, a nurse and surrogate from Alaska, gave birth to a baby boy with a rare congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) in Texas this month.
Children born with this condition may suffer from complications in the future, including irregular heartbeats, getting tired quickly during sports, a build up of fluid in the organs, legs and feet. They also require heart surgeries, the first typically within the first weeks of life, or a heart transplant, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The surrogacy contract between West and the biological parents reportedly contained a clause allowing them to request a termination if an anomaly was discovered.
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West claimed her clients wanted to end the pregnancy at around 20 weeks after consulting with doctors about the HLHS diagnosis, as per the Associated Press.
She alleged in court documents that they tried to pressure her into getting the abortion.
However, the couple who have been granted custody of the newborn following his birth in Dallas, Texas, where abortion is illegal, claimed West initially agreed with the decision to end the pregnancy after the HLHS diagnosis.
It’s alleged that the surrogate changed her mind and reportedly cut off contact with the parents, thus violating her surrogacy contract.
The biological parents have since obtained a restraining order to prevent West from seeing or holding the child after he was born, according to attorneys.
The baby is now receiving medical care and the court ruled that the parents, and not West, are responsible for medical decisions.
West’s attorney, Lincoln Davis Wilson, said Wilson intended to continue efforts to gain custody of the boy, whom he referred to as “Gabriel”, as per CBS News.
A fundraiser was established by Ellen Fisher, who says they are a friend of West, to help her ‘fight for baby Gabriel’s life’.
The fundraiser, which has raised some $85,906 (£63,385) of its goal of $125,000 (£92,230) will reportedly help West, who is a single mum of two, sustain herself and help ‘cover travel and living expenses’.
The baby boy has also been referred to as “Rumi” in an article in which the attorney for the biological parents was quoted.
Rumi underwent a Norwood procedure, a complex type of palliative heart surgery, according to Lee Budner, the attorney for the parents.
“Rumi is now recuperating under the loving care of his parents and his heroic team of doctors, nurses, and medical staff,” Budner, per NBC News.
“This is the last update on Rumi’s health that his family intends to share,” Budner said. “His condition remains critical and complex, and his family seeks privacy in caring for their son on his long road to recovery.”
Greg Harris