Baby taken from mother

Friday, February 7, 2003,
By Steven Hepker,
Staff Writer,


" Tesha Redman was born in Foote Hospital at 5:57 p.m. Tuesday, shortly after her mother appeared on the "Dr. Phil" show in a segment on fat children. State social workers seized the 6-pound, 13-ounce girl Wednesday night on an order from Probate Judge Susan Vandercook. "It was based on the fact Miss Redman has not made sufficient progress," Vandercook responded Thursday to objections from Amanda Redman's lawyer, Richard Hitt. Tesha is the second child Vandercook has taken from Redman and placed in foster care. Jerad Ostrander, born when Redman was 16, weighed 120 pounds at 3 years. Social workers said the boy was dangerously obese and that Amanda used food as a parenting tool. She was cited for abuse and neglect, and Jerad was placed in foster care in October 2001. Redman is allowed limited, supervised visits with Jerad, who weighs about 50 pounds now. The infant, who is healthy, was placed in the same foster home....
"It is fundamentally unfair to deprive her of her newborn child," Hitt said, pleading for the court to return the infant at least until the hearing. Hitt said that if Jerad was taken because his weight was dangerous, the danger has long passed, and there is no danger of overfeeding a newborn. Redman said she wanted to nurse her baby, but was not allowed.... [I find this story disturbing on so many levels... - JC]