A terminally ill mother is fighting to prevent the adoption of her four-year-old son because she fears he will forget her.
A life-story record must be prepared in a bid to help ensure he remembers her, a High Court judge has recommended.
With no other family members available to look after her child, the woman is disputing a Trust's opinion that adoption is in his best interests.
She has voiced fears that her son's name would be changed and he` may forget about her.
In a preliminary ruling on efforts to secure a care order for the boy, who has developmental issues, Mr Justice O'Hara held that the Trust has met the threshold to proceed to a final hearing.
He recognised that changing the name of the child - referred to as M - was more likely through adoption than long-term foster care.
But according to the judge the boy's memories of his mother may be affected by any disability which emerges as he grows.
He said: "This is, however, a case in which it is obvious that a life story record must be prepared so that as M's life continues he can be informed about his background.
"That is what happens in most cases and there are powerful reasons for it being done here."
The child's 41-year-old mother, identified only as Ms B, has a mild learning disability.
She is now terminally ill with cancer and has refused to disclosed the name of her son's father, claiming only that he died of a drug overdose after M was born.
With the woman's deteriorating health compounded by suffering from angina, arthritis and asthma, her son has stayed with carers since June last year.
Efforts were made to identify a family member who can look after M long term, but none were found.
Although he still sees his mother, contact has become less frequent, in part because she does not want him to be distressed by her appearance.
The Trust issued care proceedings last December 2014, citing concerns that no one would have parental responsibility for the boy.
Ms B agreed to interim care arrangements before making clear her opposition to any long-term plan including adoption.
She appeared to favour an order which would place her son in long-term foster care.
