Clothing company Kyte Baby tries to fend off boycott after denying mom's request to work from preemie son's hospital

The popular baby clothing company Kyte Baby is trying to head off a consumer boycott this morning, after the family of an employee said she was forced to give up her job to be in the hospital with her premature newborn.

Marissa Hughes took to social media Friday to thank supporters after they learned that she was out of a job at the clothing brand: "I just wanted to come on here and thank each and every person who has loved and supported us so much over these last few days," she said.

Hughes' family said she was fired after not returning from maternity leave in order to care for her newly-adopted son. He was premature, weighed 1 pound, and was in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nine hours from their Dallas home.