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| Stem cell match brother 'denied visa for life-saving op' | Stem cell match brother 'denied visa for life-saving op' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman with a rare blood cancer is being denied a life-saving transplant from her brother because he doesn't earn enough, a charity has said. | A woman with a rare blood cancer is being denied a life-saving transplant from her brother because he doesn't earn enough, a charity has said. |
| Shirley Kordie, 33, has hypoplastic MDS and will leave her son, Blessing, four, without a mother if she is not treated. | Shirley Kordie, 33, has hypoplastic MDS and will leave her son, Blessing, four, without a mother if she is not treated. |
| Her brother Joseph, who lives in Ghana, is a "perfect" stem cell match but his visa application was denied due to his "financial circumstances". | Her brother Joseph, who lives in Ghana, is a "perfect" stem cell match but his visa application was denied due to his "financial circumstances". |
| The Home Office said it was "urgently reviewing" the case. | |
| Ms Kordie said: "My life is in danger - I need to get my life back for my son. | Ms Kordie said: "My life is in danger - I need to get my life back for my son. |
| "I have my little boy, and I want to live for him." | "I have my little boy, and I want to live for him." |
| The Anthony Nolan Trust and the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) have launched a campaign to support Ms Kordie, who has been receiving treatment at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. | The Anthony Nolan Trust and the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) have launched a campaign to support Ms Kordie, who has been receiving treatment at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. |
| The Anthony Nolan Trust said the reason Joseph had been refused a visa is because "he doesn't earn enough money". | |
| '10 out of 10 match' | '10 out of 10 match' |
| A petition urging the government to reverse its decision had amassed about 10,000 signatures in 36 hours. | |
| Joseph, a nurse himself, is unable to make the donation in Ghana, so coming to the UK is his only option, said the Anthony Nolan Trust. | Joseph, a nurse himself, is unable to make the donation in Ghana, so coming to the UK is his only option, said the Anthony Nolan Trust. |
| Spokeswoman Amelia Chong said there were no alternative options for a donor on the international stem cell register. | Spokeswoman Amelia Chong said there were no alternative options for a donor on the international stem cell register. |
| "Her brother is a perfect, 10 out of 10 match for her," she said. | "Her brother is a perfect, 10 out of 10 match for her," she said. |
| "We have reviewed all those on the donor list and he is not only the perfect match, he is the only match. | |
| "All Joseph needs is a temporary visa to undergo the procedure." | |
| What is a stem cell transplant? | What is a stem cell transplant? |
| Stem cells are the body's primary cells. All other cells, tissue, organs and bones develop from stem cells. | Stem cells are the body's primary cells. All other cells, tissue, organs and bones develop from stem cells. |
| Blood stem cells, found in our bone marrow, are responsible for creating lots of different types of blood cells. | Blood stem cells, found in our bone marrow, are responsible for creating lots of different types of blood cells. |
| For 90 per cent of donations, cells are collected through the donor's bloodstream in a process called peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC). | For 90 per cent of donations, cells are collected through the donor's bloodstream in a process called peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC). |
| Their blood is passed through a small tube into a machine that collects the stem cells, and then returns the rest of the blood to the body. | Their blood is passed through a small tube into a machine that collects the stem cells, and then returns the rest of the blood to the body. |
| In order to have a stem cell transplant, the recipient must get rid of the abnormal cells using chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. | In order to have a stem cell transplant, the recipient must get rid of the abnormal cells using chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. |
| New stem cells will then be infused into the recipient's blood in a similar way to a regular blood transfusion. | New stem cells will then be infused into the recipient's blood in a similar way to a regular blood transfusion. |
| When the new stem cells enter the recipient's blood, they move to the bone marrow and start producing new blood cells. Over time, this leads to the development of a new immune system that can recognise and remove any remaining abnormal cells in the body. | When the new stem cells enter the recipient's blood, they move to the bone marrow and start producing new blood cells. Over time, this leads to the development of a new immune system that can recognise and remove any remaining abnormal cells in the body. |
| Source: Anthony Nolan Trust | Source: Anthony Nolan Trust |
| In a previous letter to Shirley, the Home Office said: "While I am aware of the importance of family contact and the compassionate nature of your application, I must, however, also consider your personal and financial circumstances in Ghana when addressing your application." | |
| But in a statement released on Thursday, a spokesman said: "We are urgently reviewing the decision and will give very careful consideration to the compassionate circumstances." | |
| Shirley is currently at her home in Walsall, West Midlands, receiving regular blood transfusions. | Shirley is currently at her home in Walsall, West Midlands, receiving regular blood transfusions. |
| Why are visas refused? | Why are visas refused? |
| In order to be eligible for a temporary visa, an applicant must demonstrate that they: | In order to be eligible for a temporary visa, an applicant must demonstrate that they: |
| As an organ donor, applicants must demonstrate that they: | As an organ donor, applicants must demonstrate that they: |
| Source: Gov.uk | Source: Gov.uk |
| Orin Lewis, chief executive of the ACLT, said: "The stark reality is Shirley has no other option. | Orin Lewis, chief executive of the ACLT, said: "The stark reality is Shirley has no other option. |
| "The search for an unrelated donor is made difficult due to her African heritage, which means she is three times less likely to find a perfect match." | "The search for an unrelated donor is made difficult due to her African heritage, which means she is three times less likely to find a perfect match." |