She said her 2-year-old daughter still shows symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes. Similarly, Zhou said his 23-month-old son is still suffering from kidney stones and renal atrophy after he left the hospital. But when he took his son back to the local hospital, they wouldn't admit the child again.

"The doctors asked my son to go home and drink more water. But we're worried his condition will get worse. We just hope the government can come up with a treatment plan for children like my son. You can't wait for things to get worse to look for solutions," Zhou said.

Last month, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court concluded bankruptcy procedures for Sanlu, leaving no money for the payment of settlements. This made compensation for sick children's parents impossible even if they win civil compensation lawsuits.

But Ma's lawyer, Peng Jian, has thought of a possible way out.

After learning the trial was postponed, Peng decided to add five more defendants to Ma's trial, all of them local dairy companies. He said the reason is that part of those companies' profits in 2007 came from Sanlu's selling of tainted milk formula, which also makes them responsible for the case. Also added to the trial is a third party, the China Dairy Industry Association.