BREAKING: A surrogate mother in Alaska is fighting to save the baby boy she is carrying after the intended parents demanded an abortion.
McKenna West, a single mother, agreed to serve as a surrogate through an agency and became pregnant with a baby boy she calls Gabriel. At the 20-week anatomy scan, doctors diagnosed him with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a serious but treatable heart condition.
Shortly after the diagnosis, the intended parents asked McKenna to abort the pregnancy. She scheduled out-of-state appointments but could not go through with it, saying she could not face returning home to her own children after ending the baby’s life.
Her brother stepped in with support, and McKenna cancelled the abortion. She has since connected with medical teams willing to treat Gabriel after birth and has filed for custody to ensure he receives care.
The intended parents have refused treatment for the child and are now suing her for not terminating the pregnancy.
McKenna is approximately 35 weeks pregnant and continues working with lawyers to protect Gabriel’s chance at life.