A California couple, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, are at the center of a contentious custody battle involving a newborn with a severe heart condition. The child, born in August, was delivered by McKenna West, a surrogate from Alaska, in Dallas, Texas, during a time when most abortions are prohibited in the state. West has now petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the dispute, seeking to halt a California court order that recognizes Ahmed and Gilkar as the child’s legal parents. West refers to the baby as Gabriel, while the couple calls him Rumi. The child was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and life-threatening condition where the left side of the heart does not develop properly, preventing normal blood flow. The baby underwent surgery shortly after birth, but his condition remains fragile. West argues that Ahmed and Gilkar are not committed to ensuring the child receives the necessary life-saving medical care. She points to the couple’s earlier request for an abortion at 23 weeks as a concern, suggesting they may not be fully committed to the child’s long-term survival. Surrogacy laws vary by state, and there is no federal regulation governing the practice, which has led to legal conflicts between states. The Supreme Court is not required to take the case, and West is currently barred from contacting the child, as Ahmed and Gilkar have obtained a restraining order to prevent her from seeing or holding the baby. During a court hearing in August, Gilkar described West as “unstable” and claimed she was trying to take their baby away. “He’s our child,” Gilkar said, expressing emotional distress during the hearing. West and her legal team argue that the couple may not follow through on necessary medical treatments for the child, including surgeries that could save his life. They claim that Ahmed and Gilkar have refused to provide updates on the baby’s condition and have not shared any information about his health. West’s legal filing states that she lost her case in Texas, where she sought to gain custody of the child, and the Texas court recognized the California court’s judgment. She believes the baby’s life is in danger and is seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to ensure the child receives the care he needs. Without treatment, the condition can be fatal within days or weeks, and ongoing medical care, including additional surgeries or a heart transplant, may be required.