Man has gastric surgery in adoption bid

[catlover79]

Associated Press

DALLAS - A man who weighed 558 pounds when a Missouri judge prevented him from adopting a child he and his wife had taken into their home underwent gastric bypass surgery Friday in a bid to win the child back.

Gary Stocklaufer, a 34-year-old truck driver, and his wife claim a judge unfairly discriminated against them because of his weight in deciding to give 4-month-old Max to another couple for possible adoption. The infant from Arlington, who is related to the Stocklaufers, had lived with them since he was a week old.

This is considered the first case where a couple seeking to adopt has resorted to surgery in the increasingly prevalent practice of denying parents adoptions because they are obese, several adoption experts said.

Missouri officials would not confirm the reason Max was removed from the Stocklaufers' home, citing the confidentiality of ongoing court proceedings in adoption cases.

Stocklaufer, of Independence, Mo., dieted before the surgery and weighed 480 pounds when he entered the Renaissance Hospital in Dallas for the pro bono operation that could help him shed more than half his bulk.

"They have legally kidnapped this child," Cindy Stocklaufer said Friday as her husband recovered from surgery. "There's no guarantee losing the weight will change anything, but we have to try."

The Jackson County (Mo.) court is required "to consider the welfare and best interests of the child" which is a "complicated determination," court spokeswoman Kelley Carpenter said in an e-mail.

An adoptive parent's health is one of the factors considered by investigators at the Missouri Department of Social Services, said the department's communications director, Ana Margarita Compain-Romero. She could not comment on the specifics of the case.

James Waits, a lawyer for the couple taking care of Max, declined to comment. Max is in adoptive placement with the couple, Cindy Stocklaufer said.

The Stocklaufers have been married 15 years and are licensed by the state of Missouri as foster parents and cared for children. In November 2000, they adopted another relative, 8-year-old Robert. The same judge who denied their petition to adopt Max approved Robert's adoption after multiple house visits and background checks, Cindy Stocklaufer said.

Even then, her husband weighed more than 500 pounds. "They never even mentioned it when we adopted Bobby, and he was the same size," she said.

Lee Allen, vice president of the National Council for Adoption, said he believes the court has forgotten the best interest of the child in this case, considering the Stocklaufers are the boy's relatives chosen as parents by the birth mother with a previous successful adoption.

"What I'm really, really impressed with is the fact that this man is willing to go to whatever lengths to adopt Max and raise him," he said.

More and more American agencies have started considering the weight of adoption applicants as they place children, said Gloria Hochman, spokeswoman for the National Adoption Center, though definitions of dangerous obesity vary by state agency.

The regulations are designed to insure permanency for the child, she said.

In May, the Chinese government began considering the body mass index of American parents when screening couples' eligibility for international adoption.

[PlayOn]

Yea, I saw this on Fox News a few months back and it made me mad. Who knows, his weight problem maybe genetic. Also, the baby is his family, so he shouldn't have to adopt, IMO. Just give him the child to him.

[*ClassicPinUp*]

So, the baby is denied a good home with his own family because the man is overweight? Ridiculous.
It’s very touching to see the lengths that man would go through in order to get Max back. I pray that they succeed and soon.

[coffield3]

Thats shocking! its his child, so what if hes overweight? they managed to conceive him. Tell you what its getting crazy wheres human rights when you need them!

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by coffield3

Thats shocking! its his child, so what if hes overweight? they managed to conceive him. Tell you what its getting crazy wheres human rights when you need them!

It's not this man's baby; it's a relative's baby. But they are still blood.


I think it's sad that weight is a factor...they should first and foremost look at whether the home is good or not. So many kids don't get a chance at a good home.

[Ireneparalegal]

If weight is a factor, then someone better look into Nicole Richie and see if she is going to be a fit mother.

[Mikado]

Thats just disgusting...talk about legal descrimination....if thats the real reason, then its wrong!

[Janice]

This is very unfair. The same judge granted one adoption for the couple and pulled this with this baby. Hopefully, a smart lawyer looking for some good publicity will pick up their case.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

If weight is a factor, then someone better look into Nicole Richie and see if she is going to be a fit mother.

Amen, sister! You are so right.

[coffield3]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

If weight is a factor, then someone better look into Nicole Richie and see if she is going to be a fit mother.

Well said irene!

[Mikado]

This couple have been a steadily married couple for 15 years, have adopted before AND they were CHOSEN by the birth mother, and yet, are somehow no longer fit to adopt, what a crock of @%#@# , i hope this will be overturned, some heads in Dallas should roll for this!

[Corolla]

Don't we just love the world we live in?

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by MusicAddict911

Don't we just love the world we live in?

Yeah....Im getting on the first shuttle to the Moon colony, anyone care to join me?

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Yeah....Im getting on the first shuttle to the Moon colony, anyone care to join me?

Mikey, I'm in.

[Mikado]

Great, you can drive