SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla.

A vegan mother who had her newborn son taken from her several months ago after he began losing weight has him back

On Wednesday, a Seminole County judge told Sarah Markham that she would get custody of her son Caleb, with the provision that she provide a nutritionist's report within 10 days.

Markham was arrested in June when her son was less than two weeks old. He had lost 10 percent of his body weight. A doctor said Caleb was failing to thrive and told Markham to take her child to a hospital.

Rather than taking the boy to the hospital, Markham wanted to try supplementing breast milk with vegan formula.

"There's no case, there's no abuse, there's no neglect, there's simply a doctor who has been challenged by a mother and he didn't like it," said Bo Markham, Caleb's grandfather.

The judge agreed, throwing out Seminole County Child Protective Services' claim that Sarah Markham was not fit to care for the child.

Attorney Mark O'Mara said he expects the criminal case against the mother to be thrown out as well.

"My hope is that they'll simply dismiss it and not go forward on this at all," said O'Mara.

Caleb stayed with grandparents after being removed from his mother's care and now weighs 17 pounds.

Original post:
Vegan mom arrested over unhealthy newborn has son returned to her

Sarah Markham's baby was taken away from her in June because she didn't take her baby to the hospital when he was losing weight She wanted to supply the baby with vegan formula instead of breast milk to see if would help the baby gain any weight before going to the hospital Markham is a Christian Seventh-day Adventist and holistic healing is in her system of beliefs

By Alexandra Klausner for MailOnline

Published: 10:05 EST, 12 November 2014 | Updated: 11:57 EST, 12 November 2014

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A Florida mother is fighting for custody of her son - after he was taken into care by state officials who feared her vegan diet would harm the boy's health.

Sarah Markham of Orlando's baby was taken away from her at the age of 12 days in June after she refused to take her to hospital when he began to lose weight.

Instead, she told police that she wanted to feed her baby a vegan formula.

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Vegan mom fights for custody of son over plan to give him vegan formula

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla.

A new mother is fighting for custody of her son, who she hasn't been alone with since he was 12 days old, because of her vegan beliefs. Sarah Markham's baby was taken from her because she opted not to take him to the hospital when he was losing weight. Instead, she told investigators she wanted to try feeding him vegan formula. Now she's fighting to get him back while she faces criminal charges. They've kept a child away from mom, said attorney Mark OMara. My client can only see her child once a week or twice a week because they're requiring the child be out of county. Sarah Markham was arrested in June when her son was less than two weeks old. He had lost 10 percent of his body weight. But instead of taking the boy to the hospital under doctors' orders, Markham wanted to try supplementing breast milk with vegan formula. Markham is a Seventh-day Adventist, according to an arrest report, and holistic healing is in line with her beliefs. Channel 9s Karla Ray asked OMara if it rose to the level of child neglect. Not even close, OMara said. It's absurd. It's a mom trying to do the best she can, acting as a vegan which she has the entire right to do taking care of her child. O'Mara said Markham is only allowed supervised visitation a few times a week at the order of Seminole County Child Protective Services. Markham is set to face a judge on Nov. 12 to fight to regain custody of the now healthy boy while she faces criminal charges. She has done everything they've asked her to do: Mental health evaluations, drug evaluations, parenting classes, everything they've asked her to do she's done and she's done it very well, and yet we have to go to trial on this tomorrow. It's absurd, said O'Mara.

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Vegan mom arrested over unhealthy newborn fights for babys custody