Parents fighting for custody of hospitalized daughter case delayed

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Justina Pelletier's hospitalization has drawn national and international attention since it aired on Fox.

Pelletier is a 15-year-old who was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease years ago – a condition causing muscle pain and weakness. Then, 10 months ago, she was admitted to Boston Children's Hospital with the flu.

At BCH, her parents say a different set of doctors diagnosed her with "somatoform disorder," in short, saying she suffered from a mental illness, not mitochondrial disease.

When her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier disagreed and asked for a second opinion, they lost custody of their daughter. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families was called in after just four days. The parents haven't had custody now for 10 months.

Her parents found out Friday that hearings to potentially reverse the custody ruling have been delayed, again. They will have to wait until January to potentially bring their daughter home.

Advocated for mitochondrial disease joined the family outside of court Friday and say that the family should be reunited.

Cox Media Group