NEW ULM, Minn. - The parents of a Minnesota boy who refused chemotherapy for his cancer told a judge Tuesday they now agree to the medical treatment, and the judge ruled their son can stay with them.
Daniel Hauser, 13, has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He and his mother missed a court appearance last week and left the state to avoid chemotherapy and seek alternative treatments. Colleen and Anthony Hauser told a Brown County District judge they now understand their son needs chemotherapy.
When Judge John Rodenberg asked an emotional Colleen Hauser if she now believes chemotherapy is necessary to save her son’s life, she replied, “Yes I do.”
Daniel is scheduled for a round of chemotherapy on Thursday at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota.
Daniel and Colleen returned to Minnesota on Monday after almost a week on the run. Dr. James Joyce evaluated Daniel at the family’s home in Sleepy Eye, and then made an appointment for Daniel to see an oncologist.
That exam showed a tumor in Daniel’s chest has grown — and is larger than it was when he was diagnosed in January, according to a medical report read in court by Rodenberg. The tumor is pushing against Daniel’s trachea, causing pain that Daniel rated as a 10 on a scale of one to 10.
“The doctor is stating in the strongest possible terms that this course of chemotherapy has to commence and commence soon,” Rodenberg said.
Attorneys for Brown County Family Services and for the guardian ad litem objected to the judge’s ruling on custody, saying they wanted Daniel to stay in foster care. The judge had ruled earlier this month that Daniel would be placed in protective custody if his parents did not abide by a court order to see an oncologist.
Video Mother to comply with court-ordered chemo
May 26: After a week on the run to avoid court-mandated medical treatment for his cancer, 13-year-old Daniel Hauser returned home with his mother to Minnesota, where they agreed to continue with the boy's chemotherapy treatments. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports. Nightly News
“I do not see why the court would consider a change in custody status,” said Tom Sinas, attorney for the guardian ad litem. “The only thing that has happened since we were last here is that Colleen Hauser fled the state with her son. I don’t see how that is the basis for revisiting the custody decision.”
James Olson, the Brown County prosecutor, said social workers at Children’s Hospital told them that as recently as Monday, when Daniel saw the oncologist, the Hausers were still saying they didn’t want chemotherapy.
“I am concerned that if Danny doesn’t like the second round of chemotherapy he’s going to say, ’I’m going to run away again,’ and we’re going to be right back where we started,” Olson said. “These folks have had a history of changing their minds.”
Attorneys for the Hausers wanted Daniel to stay with his parents and seven siblings.
“This family clearly loves and cares for Danny,” attorney Tom Hagen said. “The environment at the Hausers’ home is loving and caring. It is a healing place. Their main interest is in making sure Danny is OK.”
Daniel did not appear in the courtroom Tuesday, but his court-appointed attorney, Philip Elbert, spoke on his behalf. He said Daniel has now had sufficient time to talk to a doctor and discuss the situation with his parents and Elbert.
The attorney said Daniel wanted to schedule one chemotherapy session at a time and then be examined before doing the next one. The judge said they had to follow the course of treatment recommended by Children’s Hospital, which back in January was six rounds of chemotherapy, possibly followed by radiation. It’s not clear whether that course of treatment would still apply, given the change in Daniel’s tumor.
Daniel underwent one round of chemotherapy in February, but stopped after that, citing religious beliefs. The family prefers natural healing practices suggested by a religious group called the Nemenhah Band, which says it follows American Indian beliefs.
Rodenberg ruled earlier this month the parents medically neglected Daniel and ordered them to get him an updated chest X-ray as well as select an oncologist for a re-evaluation. After the X-ray showed a tumor in Daniel’s chest had grown, the mother and son left town.
The FBI said the pair flew to Los Angeles a week ago, and returned early Monday.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma has a 90 percent cure rate in children if treated with chemotherapy and radiation, but doctors said Daniel was likely to die without those treatments.
“Danny loves his parents and they love him. He’s a fine boy, a very pleasant young man. I know he should be in the custody of his parents — as long as I’m satisfied they are going to follow the prescribed course of treatment,” Rodenberg said.
Turning to Colleen and Anthony Hauser, Rodenberg said, “I’m taking you at your word. We’re starting over right now.”
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After being on the run for about a week, Daniel Hauser and his mother, Colleen, returned home to Minnesota to attend a court hearing and proceed with treatments for Daniel's cancer.

The charges will be dropped against Colleen Hauser and her thirteen-year-old son Daniel who has Hodgkin's lymphoma after the pair fled a court order for chemotherapy.

Jennifer Keller, an attorney from Orange County, California, assisted the arrangement for the Hausers to return.

"She'll abide by what the court says," said Keller, "They always expected to return. She's horrified people perceive her as hiding out. That isn't what she intended. He wasn't in any acute distress. He was quite tired. He was very, very eager to get home."

The court hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in New Ulm, Minnesota will decide custody and medical care procedures.

County Attorney James Olson said, "A lot depends upon the attitude of the parents, their willingness to get on board with a treatment plan."

Daniel has only a five percent chance of survival without cancer chemotherapy treatments. Previous testimony revealed that Hodgkin's lymphoma which was diagnosed January has a 90 to 95% success rate for survival with chemotherapy.

The voluntary return of Colleen and Daniel from California was videotaped and arranged by Asgaard Media which submitted the video to authorities.

Daniel is in the care of Brown County protective custody services, but was allowed the night at the family farm in Sleepy Eye supervised by sheriff's deputies. He was seen at a Twin Cities hospital on their arrival Monday according to Tom Hagen, attorney for Collen and Anthony, Daniel's parents.