Boy to resume cancer therapy

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

NEW ULM, Minn. — At an emotionally charged court hearing Tuesday afternoon, a Minnesota judge returned 13-year-old Daniel Hauser to his parents’ custody on condition that the boy resume cancer treatment immediately.

Daniel, whose chest tumor is growing and is now compressing his airway, has an appointment today at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis to resume chemotherapy and other therapies.

The decision, reached one day after Daniel and his mother ended a weeklong flight from the law, was not without some drama.

Brown County Attorney James Olson, who first petitioned for the court to intervene in Daniel’s care, told Judge John Rodenberg there was an issue of trust because of the family’s refusal to continue chemotherapy and their run to California.

“I’m concerned that if Daniel doesn’t like the second round of chemo, he’s not going to do it and he’s going to run away and we’ll be right back where we are,” Olson said. “These folks have a history of changing their minds.”

Attorney Tom Hagen, representing the parents, apologized to the judge for Colleen Hauser’s failure to appear in court last week and asked that the judge return Daniel to his parents’ custody.

Before deciding, Rodenberg asked each parent: “Do you believe that chemotherapy is necessary to save Daniel’s life?”

Colleen Hauser grabbed some tissues and said, “Yes, I do,” as did Daniel’s father, Anthony Hauser.

The judge then said: “Folks, I take you at your word,” and cut off the county’s custody.

County authorities won legal custody of Daniel on May 15, after doctors alerted them that the family had broken off the teen’s chemotherapy treatments and warned that the boy could die. When Daniel and his mother failed to appear at a court hearing May 19, Rodenberg issued a warrant for Colleen’s arrest, and a nationwide crime alert was issued.

Daniel and his mother flew home from California early Monday after surrendering themselves to authorities with the assistance of a California defense attorney, Jennifer Keller.