Hopeful adoptive father Gary Stocklaufer has had gastric bypass surgery to lose weight, and the court still denied his appeal for a rehearing over the custody of baby Max, but that is far from the end of this saga.

Now baby Max’s birthmother is also breaking her silence and lending her voice to the outrage over the removal of her son from the home she choose for him.

A local Kansas City station who has been following the case released an interview today with baby Max’s birthmother Penny. In the interview Penny, who did not want her last name used, stated she did not understand why the adoption was being delayed.

Penny admits that her life is difficult right now, with Max being her seventh baby. She is currently out of work and has had problems with drug use, but she wanted her son Max to be raised by family. She signed all the legal papers to allow her cousin Gary to adopt Max, but was surprised when she found out that the courts removed the baby for what the Stocklaufer’s believe is an issue with Gary’s weight.

"What does weight have to do with being a parent?" Penny asked.

Both birthmother Penny, and the Stocklaufer’s agree, what happened to Max amounts to nothing less than a legal kidnaping. Penny is certain that all the legal papers were in order, and she had followed all the proper channels to turn Max’s custody over to her cousin and his wife. Part of the reason she made the decision was to be assured that Max would be cared for by those she trusted in her extended family, as well as that she would be able to see him from time to time and receive pictures and letters about his progress.

All that, a mother’s legal right to decide what is in the best interests for her child, has been reversed by the courts of Jackson county.

It was good to hear this mother stand up and have her voice heard about the injustice being served up by this court on behalf of her son. She might have many issues in her own life, but I have to admire a mother who will come forward and continue to do what is right for her child. As for her cousin, Gary Stocklaufer and his wife, they are pledging to continue to fight for baby Max.

"We're financially broke, but I want everyone to know if it takes selling the shirt off my back, I will do whatever it takes -- I will get my son," Stocklaufer said.

Legal fund set up for the family...

Gary and Cynthia Stocklaufer Fund
Commerce Bank
17601 E. Highway 24
Independence, MO 64056

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