Top Story

Nigerian Woman Whose Sister Had UK Visa Refused for Stem Cell Transplant Dies

1.6k

A Nigerian woman May Brown, 24, resident in Dorset, UK, whose sister was refused entry to the UK to donate her “perfect match” bone marrow has died from leukemia, The Independent is reporting.

May was told she needed an urgent stem cell transplant last year, but her sister, Martha Brown, was blocked from travelling to Britain from Nigeria despite being a “10 out of 10” tissue match.

According to the family, the Home Office said it was “not satisfied” that she would be a genuine visitor or had the funds to cover the costs of the trip.

That decision was overturned following a campaign, and the stem cell transplant was performed at King’s College Hospital in London in January, the paper said.

The transplant appeared to have been successful and Martha returned to Nigeria, but three months later May, who had a three-year-old daughter, relapsed.

The 24-year-old, from Weymouth in Dorset, was told by consultants there was nothing more that doctors could do for her, and last Friday she died with loved ones, including her husband Mike, by her side.

The Home Office’s decision to temporarily halt Martha’s entry to the UK came despite a pledge by the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to cover the full costs of her trip.

ACLT said Martha’s £222-a-month teacher’s salary was too low to meet entry requirements, despite the urgent medical needs of her sister.

May said at the time: “I was elated when I received the news Martha was a 10 out of 10 match. But when I received notification her visa was rejected, I felt distraught and helpless.

“My two-year-old daughter Selina needs me. She needs me to be back home with her, looking after her.

“To know my life isn’t important to those who have the power to help me is deeply upsetting. My life can be saved if my sister is granted to enter the UK to donate her stem cells.

“This is a six-hour journey which will help save my life. I am begging for the UK Home Office to review their decision and grant my sister admission to the UK.”

A petition to grant Martha a visa attracted more than 60,000 signatures, and was delivered to the Home Office, which declined to comment on her case but said “all visa applications must be assessed against the immigration rules”.

Reversing the Home Office decision last October, immigration minister Robert Goodwill cited “compassionate and exceptional circumstances” in granting her leave to visit the UK.

Ms Brown’s husband said in a statement after her death: “May will forever be remembered in our hearts. She was a strong, beautiful, supportive, wonderful wife and mother. Selina and I will truly miss her.

“May was incredibly grateful to the support given to her from ACLT, and I echo those words on behalf of me and our daughter Selina.

“May will forever remain in our hearts.”

​Beverley De-Gale, co-founder of ACLT, said: “In the 18 months I’ve known her, I can say May was a remarkable woman who fought hard to beat this terrible illness.

“Every member of the ACLT team is extremely saddened by her passing. Our thoughts are with her husband Mike, three-year-old daughter Selina and May’s sister Martha.”

As a result of the SaveMayBrown campaign, thousands more people were added to the stem cell register in the UK and Nigeria.

In a similar ongoing case, leukaemia sufferer Isaac Aganozor is appealing for his brother, Patrick, to be allowed to travel from Nigeria to the UK for a bone marrow transplant.

Patrick, according to report was refused a visa by the British High Commission in Lagos after they said in a letter they were “not satisfied” he would leave at the end of his stay.

Isaac told the Evening Standard: “I was so happy when I found out that my brother was a match. But when his application was rejected it was a bigger shock than getting told I had leukaemia in the first place.

“The immigration officers didn’t consider my health, only economics.”

The Home Office said he was “free to submit a new application with supporting

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just in: Lagos socialite Aisha Achimugu hauled up in Abuja court

Lagos socialite and businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, who was arrested on Tuesday at...

FG declares May 1 public holiday

To mark this year’s Workers’ Day, the Federal Government has declared Thursday,...

Tinubu Congratulates Newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Mr. Mark Joseph Carney on his election...

Just in: Touting: FG orders one-stop unified screening at airports

In a bid to tackle the issues of disorder and touting within...

Breaking: Wanted socialite Achimugu nabbed at Abuja airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested wanted businesswoman, Aisha...

Uxoricide: Nwachukwu, Widower of Gospel Singer Osinachi, Sentenced to Death by Hanging

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has...

Annie’s Slip, Davido’s Triumph, and the Unforgettable Moments at Headies’‘Back to Base’

Stepping onto the 17th Headies Awards stage at the Landmark Event Centre...

Lagos Hotel Drug Bust Nets NDLEA N1.04bln Haul

In another significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement...

FCT Minister Wike Launches Crackdown on Unregistered Hospitals, Quack Practitioners

Determined to improve the integrity of the capital’s healthcare system, the Federal...

Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

Pope Francis was buried inside his favourite Rome church, the Santa Maria...

WTO’s Okonjo-Iweala Calls on Africa to Boost Intra-Regional Trade Amid US Tariffs

Faced with broad tariffs declared by the United States on African goods,...

Information Commissioners in APC-Controlled States Hail Tinubu’s Reforms, Nigerians’ Resilience

President Bola Tinubu’s administration received commendation from Information Commissioners of APC-controlled states...

NDLEA, NAPTIP Inaugurate Taskforce to Combat Drug, Human Trafficking

In a strategic move to combat the intertwined threats of human trafficking,...

Climate Change Exacerbates Nigeria’s Food Security Issues, Agric Minister Warns

Nigeria’s food security challenges, exacerbated by climate change, require adaptive solutions, Agriculture...

Freedom at Last: Jude Okoye Released After Two Months in EFCC Custody

It’s a moment of relief and celebration for Nigerian singer Paul Okoye,...

Rivers New Administrator Makes First Appearance at NEC Meeting

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, made...

NDLEA, NYSC Eye Closer Anti-Drug Collaboration

To tackle substance abuse effectively, the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law...

Breaking: PDP’s Delta Gov. Oborevwori, Okowa, Others Defect to APC

Amid speculation and denials, Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, the immediate...

Pres. Tinubu returns to Abuja after two-week working visit to France, UK

President Bola Tinubu on Monday evening returned to Abuja after a two-week...

President Tinubu Mourns Pope Francis, Hails Late Pontiff as ‘Voice of Justice for the World’s Forgotten’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of...