Teen Must Stay Confined to Hospital for Chemo: Court

And Cassandra's mom isn't allowed to visit her, per court order
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 2, 2015 1:39 PM CDT
Teen Must Stay Confined to Hospital for Chemo: Court
This January 2015 file photo provided by Cassandra C. shows her confined in a room at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Conn.   (AP Photo/Cassandra C., File)

A 17-year-old ward of the state of Connecticut who's being forced to continue her chemotherapy treatments has just lost another court battle. Cassandra C. wanted to leave Connecticut Children's Medical Center, where she's currently confined, to wrap up her treatments at home, but a judge denied that request yesterday, NBC Connecticut reports. The presiding judge also ruled Cassandra's mom can't see her at the hospital as long as she's in state custody, the AP reports. "I cried when I found out," Cassandra tells People. "Why are they keeping me from my mom?" Part of the reason for the separation may be that state attorneys think her mom has been unduly influencing Cassandra to reject the "poison" of chemo, which doctors say will give the teen an 85% shot at recovery.

Cassandra, now said to be in remission, had wanted to finish the two four-day treatments left at home, People reports; the sessions are currently set to end April 27. The state Department of Children and Families, which has noted it's looking into placing Cassandra in a group home when she gets out of the hospital, says in a statement, per NBC, "We … know this has been a traumatic and scary thing through which she has suffered. We want her to complete her treatment so that she can return home knowing she has put this completely behind her." Meanwhile, Cassandra—who also found out yesterday she lost the part-time job she relied on to pay for her phone and save for college and a car—just wants a visit from her mother, whom she hasn't been permitted to see since New Year's Day. (More chemotherapy stories.)

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