SEMINOLE, Fla., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A vegan mom in Florida was arrested earlier this year after a doctor found her newborn to be malnourished and ordered her to go the hospital immediately. Her failure to oblige cost her custody of her son.
But now Sarah Markham and her son Caleb are reunited, after the 24-year-old Seminole County resident agreed to meet regularly with state-appointed nutritionist.
"I'm just so excited ecstatic and about getting him back this whole thing was a nightmare," Markham told WFTV. "I can go back to being a new mom and bonding with him. I am just very happy."
In June, when Markham didn't show up at the hospital, police came to her apartment and put her in handcuffs. She soon found herself facing child neglect charges.
Sarah Markham is a vegan and Seventh Day Adventist, and wishes to raise her son the same. When Markham struggled with breast feeding, her doctor recommended she supplement her efforts with baby formula. But when Markham refused to give Caleb non-vegan formula, her doctor instructed her to go to the local hospital.
Markham's lawyer said his client returned home and purchased vegan formula for the child, instead of going to the hospital. She was feeding the new formula to the child when she was arrested.
"He's still on a soy formula -- he's been on it, he likes it, he's doing well. He's growing healthy and I can't ask for anything more," said Markham.
