McKenna West’s baby is in critical condition following complex heart surgery, according to a new court filing from the newborn’s biological parents, as the surrogate custody dispute takes another urgent turn. Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed say the child, whom they call Rumi, suffered a significant decline after undergoing the Norwood procedure and required re-intubation. The medical crisis comes amid an unusual legal battle that began after West continued the pregnancy despite the California couple requesting a termination following a diagnosis.
McKenna West’s Baby Faces Complications After Heart Surgery
According to court documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, Aug. 25, Gilkar and Ahmed say their biological son, whom they call “Rumi,” recently underwent the Norwood procedure, a complex open-heart surgery. The latest filing says his condition has since taken a troubling turn.
The parents told the court that in the previous 24 hours, “Serious medical developments have arisen that impact the health and safety of the child. The child is in critical condition and being closely monitored at the hospital.” They further claimed the newborn appears to be “suffering from potential complications from the Norwood, and last night, the child’s condition declined significantly, requiring re-intubation.”
The medical emergency has now affected the ongoing court proceedings. Gilkar and Ahmed are asking for a scheduled hearing involving a temporary restraining order against West to be postponed. The temporary order gave the biological parents custody of their son until a future hearing.
The latest development adds another layer to a case that has already attracted widespread attention because of the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, the child’s medical needs and competing claims over who should care for him.
How the Surrogate Custody Dispute Began
Gilkar and Ahmed, a California couple, hired West to carry their child as a surrogate. The dispute began after doctors discovered that the baby had a heart defect during the pregnancy. According to previous court filings, the biological parents requested that the pregnancy be terminated, citing terms in their surrogacy agreement. West did not terminate the pregnancy and instead traveled to Texas, where she eventually gave birth.
West has since indicated that she wants to care for the child, setting up the unusual custody dispute with his biological parents. Gilkar and Ahmed maintain that they want to care for their son and address his serious medical needs. The couple has also argued in court that West has not alleged they are unfit parents.
Their filings have questioned whether West is better positioned to care for the medically vulnerable newborn, citing concerns about her personal and financial circumstances. With the baby now in critical condition following surgery, the question of his immediate medical care has become even more pressing.
McKenna West Denies Seeking Child Support
Another disagreement has emerged over money. Gilkar and Ahmed recently alleged in court documents that West was seeking child support from them and wanted the couple to cover her legal expenses. West, however, has denied that characterization through her attorney. Her legal team said the document cited by the biological parents was only a draft, was never filed with the court and was subsequently withdrawn.
According to West’s side, the document did not seek child support. Her attorneys instead maintain that she is pursuing temporary court orders intended to ensure the baby continues receiving necessary medical and life-sustaining treatment.
That disagreement comes as both sides continue presenting sharply different positions about the child’s future. Gilkar and Ahmed currently have custody under the temporary court order, while West carried and gave birth to the child after the biological parents requested that the pregnancy be terminated. The court must still address the broader custody dispute. For now, however, the newborn’s critical condition has placed his immediate health at the center of an already complicated legal fight.
