Danny Hauser finishes his cancer treatment

By WARREN WOLFE, Star Tribune

Last update: November 6, 2009 - 10:43 PM

Cancer treatments ended Friday morning for Danny Hauser, the 13-year-old farm boy from Sleepy Eye, Minn., whose medical care was supervised by a judge after Danny fled the state with his mother last spring to avoid chemotherapy.

"He's one happy boy now," family spokesman Dan Zwakman said. "His smile is back, his energy is back, and he may be out harvesting corn for the dairy cows this afternoon." Zwakman met with the family after Danny's final radiation treatment Friday at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Danny's physicians reported that their tests show no evidence of the Hodgkin's lymphoma that was first diagnosed last winter, Zwakman said. Earlier, they had warned that the cancer probably would kill him if it went untreated.

It may take several weeks for Brown County District Court to formally relinquish supervision of the boy's medical care, after it gets formal notice that the cancer treatments have ended, said the boy's attorney, Joseph Rymanowski of St. Paul.

Danny had one chemotherapy treatment last February, then refused to return to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. His doctor notified officials in Brown County, where the family lives, and Judge John Rodenberg found the boy was "medically neglected" and in need of child protection services. Within days, Danny and his mother, Colleen, fled to California, but returned five days later.

The Hausers agreed to the chemotherapy, but added supplements and a strict diet, heavy on vegetables and fruits and low on meat. The boy's cancer soon began shrinking, although he experienced exhaustion, vomiting and low energy. After the chemo, he had 12 radiation treatments.

"His hair is growing back, although it's not red anymore. I call him blondie," Zwakman said. "His weight is coming back, and I swear he's grown 3 or 4 inches" over the summer.

"Danny is just happy to have it behind him. He knows he has to stay on his strict diet for the rest of his life to keep his immune system strong, but right now he wants to be out on the tractor and working with the cows, "Zwakman said. "Danny is a normal kid again."

Warren Wolfe • 612-673-7253