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Court Hearing On Hold Over Lung Transplant Rules

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- A court hearing over organ donation rules is on hold after the Pennsylvania girl at the center of the lawsuit received a lung transplant.

Ten-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is recovering after receiving adult lungs this week at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Her parents had sued over national transplant rules that say children under 12 must wait for pediatric lungs, which rarely become available.

U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson ordered that Sarah be put on the adult list, where her deteriorating health made her a priority and quickly led to a quick match.

Meanwhile, the national transplant network has created a special appeals process for about 30 other children who need lungs.

Baylson has canceled Friday's hearing, but says he'll revisit the issue next month if necessary, for either Sarah or another Philadelphia patient, 11-year-old Javier Acosta of New York.

Janet Murnaghan, Sarah's mother, posted an update on Facebook Friday morning that read:

"I am sorry for my silence. As you all know Sarah was very, very sick going into transplant, therefore the road out is hard and long. We are focusing all of our attention on Sarah and as a result are silent. If there are any BIG positive updates I will give them for sure."

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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