Surrogate says baby 'ripped away' 60 seconds after birth as custody fight erupts after abortion refusal

The surrogate mother who refused an abortion request after the baby she was carrying was diagnosed with a serious heart defect is pressing her legal fight after the newborn underwent lifesaving heart surgery, days after she says he was taken from her just 60 seconds after birth.

McKenna West, an Alaska mother and cardiac nurse who carried the child, said Thursday she is continuing to fight for the baby after she was separated from him moments after giving birth Aug. 12.

"I haven’t been allowed to hold this precious baby boy I carried and protected throughout my pregnancy," West wrote in a New York Post op-ed Thursday. 

"The only glimpse I got of him was during a very short 60 seconds while his umbilical cord was still connected. As soon as the cord was cut, he was taken away."

FLORIDA COUPLE REACHES AGREEMENT WITH DAUGHTER'S BIOLOGICAL PARENTS AFTER ALLEGED IVF MIX-UP

West agreed last year to serve a...