Sarcoma confirmed in boy, state says
The results of these latest tests were released to the media Friday in a four-page statement signed by guardian ad litem Mollie McDonald and Tracy Mills, managing attorney of the Office of the Guardian ad Litem. The office is responsible for representing and protecting the interests of children in court proceedings
The statement included a recommendation from Dr. Martin Johnston of St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute that Parker receive 14 cycles of multi-agent chemotherapy over 11 months.
The latest test results from Parker's tumor specimen "confirmed that the tumor removed from Parker's mouth in May 2003 is Ewing's sarcoma," the guardian ad litem's statement read.
Friday's announcement from state officials contradicted statements Parker and his parents, Daren and Barbara Jensen, made Thursday to reporters in front of their Sandy residence. The boy's parents had said the latest battery of tests from the Boise institute proved Parker was free of cancer. Parker and his parents also made emotional pleas for state officials to allow the family to choose its own course of treatment for the boy.
Also included in the guardian ad litem's statement was the news that an MRI scan of Parker's face and neck revealed a fluid collection in the boy's mouth. Johnston recommended the abnormality be examined by an oral surgeon, according to the statement.
Daren Jensen told KSL Radio's "Doug Wright Show" that Johnston suggested a dentist examine the bubble, which he said was located about a half-inch from where the first tumor was extracted. Daren Jensen added he thought Johnston's recommendation to have the abnormality checked out by a dentist was ridiculous.
Friday's events were the latest round in the he-said/she-said battle between the Jensens and state officials that has spanned the past several months.
"There is a big standoff coming up," Daren Jensen said during his radio interview Friday before the guardian ad litem's statement was released.
"We agreed to chemotherapy as a last resort," Barbara Jensen said on the radio program. "It's not the first resort. Dr. Johnston is recommending it as a first resort. We committed as a last resort."
Besides contending that three test results done by Johnston proved Parker was cancer-free, Daren Jensen said the doctor asked to be removed from the case after he recommended chemotherapy.
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