The county's 150-page case record shows that in June 2010, the boy came to a hospital with chronic breathing problems. Then seven years old, he was diagnosed as morbidly obese. Since then, his weight has remained an issue. He suffers from sleep apnea and uses a breathing device at night. And a case worker's report states that the boy fell short of breath while walking down a small hallway.
Pat Rideout is the administrator for the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. On today's "Sound of Ideas" show, Rideout said the boy's doctors were contacting her staff with serious concerns about his health.
"So we became involved with his family more than a year and a half ago and worked closely with them and with the medical personnel involved, to try and take care of whatever the causes might be that lead to his serious weight issues."
But efforts to change the boy's eating and exercise habits didn't have lasting results. Rideout says when the problem only got worse, the county got court approval to remove the boy from his mother, and place him into a foster home.
WCPN is not identifying the boy or his mother, to protect the minor's privacy. Neither the mom nor her attorneys have granted requests for comment, but the mom did talk to The Plain Dealer. She insisted that she's tried to get her son to lose weight, loves him, and wants him home.
Others question the county's actions, including Shakyra Diaz of the Ohio ACLU. On today's program, Diaz questioned whether the boy was in "imminent danger" and asserted that he's worse off after government intervention.
"We have a student who was an honor roll student, who has now become a bed wetter and is consumed with thoughts of death," says Diaz. "That's because of government action."
Diaz also says the county is being hypocritical about concern for childhood obesity.
"You know, the same government that has cut physical education in 92-percent of our elementary schools or has made it a staple to have vending machines in our schools, or sports…you have to pay to play…that's the same government that can come and take your child away from you."
Listeners also chimed in, including "Jeff" from Cleveland Heights. He says local government shouldn't be taking on obesity cases, as resources are already stretched with other endangered kids.
"We're opening up a whole new category of children, that we can't even begin to process. Let's deal with the problems we have, without bringing in more."
Rideout replied that the county isn't singling out obese kids, but that her department has to respond to critical situations like the Cleveland Heights case.
"Amy" from Chagrin Falls emailed the show, asking if there was an imminent medical concern for the boy, why was he placed in foster care and not a medically-based treatment program.
But not everyone was sympathetic to the mother's situation, including "Doug" from the East Side.
"Please! The reason why people gain weight is a simple equation: too many calories, and not enough exercise. If the mother has been told that the child is in danger, has a health issue, and does nothing, she is responsible….and she is not responding."
The Department of Children and Family Services says it's committed to reuniting the boy with his mother. But there's no set date when that'll happen. The mom isn't waiting. She's challenging her son's removal. Arguments will be heard in juvenile court on December 14th….which happens to be the boy's ninth birthday.