However, state officials have a much different view of things. In a large brief filed earlier, the state paints the Jensens as a couple suspicious of conventional medicine and adherents to alternative treatments.

According to the state's brief, the Jensens are accused of repeatedly misinforming officials about their intentions and delaying meetings, hearings and doctor visits.

On at least one occasion, state officials say Daren Jensen appeared before the media and announced his son was cancer free after a physician had just told him he believed Parker had cancer. Afterward, the court also took issue with what it believed was the Jensens' misleading the public and press.

Daren Jensen says he knows something was removed from his son's mouth. "You can't deny the fact there was something there," he said. But he felt Wagner and other doctors would not do more specific tests to confirm the cancer. "To this day, I know it didn't effect his health any."

After state authorities dropped the child welfare case and settled the criminal charges, the Jensens filed their federal suit. Claims against the state and two other physicians were dismissed, but the Jensens were allowed to continue with their other personal claims. Daren Jensen said his family needs to pursue its suit to get back the significant amount of money they have spent defending themselves. Another purpose, he said, is to ensure other parents don't go through their ordeal.

A federal judge has yet to rule on motions by the state and doctors to dismiss the remaining claims in the suit.

"Five years and we've still been suffering from it," Jensen said.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com