Woman granted UK visa to donate bone marrow to sister in U-turn by Home Office

The government has backtracked on its decision to prevent a Nigerian woman from entering the UK so that she can donate bone marrow to help save the life of her seriously ill sister.

The decision came amid public pressure after a petition calling for May Brown’s sister Martha to be granted a visa was signed by more than 60,000 people.

“I am overjoyed for the U-turn the Home Office has taken,” she said on Friday. “I would like to thank the British public and beyond, and my MP Richard Drax, for their overwhelming support.”

May Brown, who lives in Dorset and has a two-year-old daughter Selina-May with her ex-soldier husband Mike, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year. Doctors said her only chance of survival was a stem cell transplant and assessed her sister, who lives in Nigeria with her own two young children, as a “10 out of 10 match”, campaigners said.

She was the only suitable match to be identified after what doctors at King’s College Hospital, London, said was “an extensive search” for another donor.

But earlier this month it emerged that Home Office officials had refused Martha the visa, saying they did not believe she would be a “genuine visitor”. Despite May Brown’s offer to pay for the trip, the officials believed Martha did not have the necessary funds to make it and that she would not return to Nigeria once the visa expired.

May Brown insisted her sister, whose children were to stay behind in Nigeria, had “no desire” to relocate to the UK.

A campaign led by the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) called for the decision to be reversed and the immigration minister, Robert Goodwill, confirmed the Home Office had relented on Friday.

“I have carefully considered the case of May Brown and decided that her sister will be granted leave to enter the UK given the compassionate and exceptional circumstances,” he said.

May Brown added: “I would also like to thank ACLT. I will forever be grateful for the love and support they have shown my family and me.”

She is currently receiving her second round of intensive chemotherapy at King’s College Hospital.

Woman granted UK visa to donate bone marrow to sister in U-turn by Home Office

Bone marrow match located for child following "pants on your head" campaign

Hollie Clark with mothers and fathers Laura and Stephen and younger brother Sam. Photograph: Anthony Nolan Believe in/PA

A bone marrow donor has been located for a young lady who was at the centre of a social media campaign that noticed supporters posing for selfies with pants on their heads.

Gareth Bale, the Welsh footballer who plays for Actual Madrid, Sam Warburton, the Wales rugby union captain, and Russell Howard, a comedian, had been between the stars who posted a picture of themselves on-line sporting their underwear on their heads in a bid to inspire individuals to sign up to the register in buy to find a matching donor for eight-yr-old Hollie Clark.

Hundreds of photos with the phrases HelpHollie connected, have appeared on Facebook and Twitter.

Hollie, from Cardiff, has a uncommon bone marrow syndrome called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and required a bone marrow donor, according to a spokeswoman for the charity concerned, the Anthony Nolan register.

The youngster was diagnosed with MDS, which leads to a fall in the variety of wholesome blood cells, in April right after building unusual bruising. She was surviving on blood transfusions until finally a appropriate donor was found.

This has happened and Hollie will start chemotherapy in preparation for the transplant, which will consider area later this month.

Her mother and father, Laura and Stephen, started the campaign to encourage men and women to sign up to the Anthony Nolan charity’s bone-marrow register: to join it you have to be amongst sixteen and 30 and in great wellness. The youngster and her household also posed for pictures with their underwear on their heads.

There was a 2,580% enhance in the number of men and women in Wales signing up to the bone marrow register compared to the very same two-week time period last yr, the charity mentioned.

Across the United kingdom there was a 170% leap.

Hollie’s mother, a GP, said: “Even though we are complete of happiness we still have a prolonged way to go. We know there are a lot of mums and dads hunting out of a window appropriate now, pondering if that special individual will join a bone marrow register to conserve their child’s daily life.

“It is not a position you ever want to be in. It is despair, concern and terror. Attempt and envision seeking for that a single specific person in the world who could conserve your child’s existence. It does not have to be like this, it could be various. The solution is to register as a bone marrow donor and tell your buddies to do the same.”

Karen Archer, regional register advancement manager at Anthony Nolan, added: “We are completely delighted that a match has been discovered for Hollie and we want her and all of her family the greatest of luck for the future.

“The ‘pants on your head selfie’ idea really took off and produced a massive distinction in terms of the numbers joining the register. It’s our objective to find a match for absolutely everyone who demands a transplant so it truly is great that Hollie’s friends and family are carrying on the battle and urging even a lot more folks to come forward and help the function of Anthony Nolan.”

• To locate out far more pay a visit to: www.anthonynolan.org

Bone marrow match located for child following "pants on your head" campaign

Bone marrow donor discovered for girl, 8, soon after #pantsonyourhead social media campaign

Their campaign inspired an extraordinary response with the world’s most expensive footballer, Gareth Bale lending his help.

He was joined by other well-known names which includes comedian Russell Howard, Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton, Tv presenter Gethin Jones and EastEnders actor Richard Elis.

The appeal led to a two,580 per cent increase in the variety of folks in Wales joining the Anthony Nolan register in contrast to the very same period final 12 months.

Right after waiting a gruelling 3 months, Hollie discovered out last week that a donor had been located.

Sharing the information on Hollie’s campaign Facebook webpage, Mrs Clark wrote: “We want to thank everyone who has acquired off their BOTT and aided us.

“There are virtually also several to identify, suffice to say, you know who you are and what you did Its difficult to make clear how we really feel so we will not try out, it would be messy.

“We get massive power and comfort from you all. We could not have began this journey without having the response to this campaign. You all genuinely did Assist Hollie. You really did #putyourpantsonyourhead.”

She urged individuals to carry on registering to help others like Hollie in require of a donor.

“Although we are full of happiness we still have a lengthy way to go,” she wrote.

“We know there are many Mums and Dads looking out of a window right now. Hunting and asking yourself if that special man or woman will join a bone marrow register to save their child’s lifestyle.

“Trust us, it’s not a nice feeling. Trust us when we say, it truly is not a place you EVER want to be in. It is despair, fear and terror.

“Try &amp envision just for a minute. Try out and imagine seeking for that one particular special person in the globe who could conserve your child’s life. It does not have to be like this. It could be distinct. It is simple, here is the remedy, right here is the secret. Register as a bone marrow donor and tell your close friends to do the exact same.”

Mrs Clark added: “In a brief time Anthony Nolan have turn into part of us. They were there for us and we Positive AS HELL will be there for them. We cannot and will not walk away from them.

“We will get Hollie fixed &amp be back to aid soon. We will be returning the favour.

“Parents in a similar place, preserve constructive &amp stay powerful.

“We will be there for you, that is a promise.”

Hollie, of Roath Park, Cardiff, was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood disorder which triggers a drop in the quantity of healthier blood cells in the body, three months in the past.

Mrs Clark, a GP, mentioned: “It was an absolute shock, it is practically the worst factor as a parent you could be informed.

“It was difficult to believe because she’d been so active at the time, she loves swimming and cycling and taking part in with her pals, and she’d been doing all these things with no us even knowing that her haemoglobin levels have been dangerously reduced.”

Right after discovering her younger brother Sam was not a match, her mothers and fathers made the decision to take action to locate one as quickly as achievable which led to the campaign.

In Cardiff, there was a 2,600 per cent enhance in individuals joining the register and, in the United kingdom as a total, the figure was 170 per cent compared to the exact same time last 12 months.

Karen Archer, regional register development manager at Anthony Nolan stated: “We are absolutely delighted that a match has been located for Hollie and we want her and all of her household the greatest of luck for the potential.”

To indicator up to the register visit www.anthonynolan.org/helphollie.

Bone marrow donor discovered for girl, 8, soon after #pantsonyourhead social media campaign

Bone marrow donor located for girl, eight, following worldwide social media campaign

Their campaign inspired an amazing response with the world’s most high-priced footballer, Gareth Bale lending his help.

He was joined by other well-known names like comedian Russell Howard, Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton, Television presenter Gethin Jones and EastEnders actor Richard Elis.

The appeal led to a 2,580 per cent boost in the variety of people in Wales joining the Anthony Nolan register in contrast to the same period last yr.

Right after waiting a gruelling 3 months, Hollie discovered out last week that a donor had been discovered.

Sharing the information on Hollie’s campaign Facebook page, Mrs Clark wrote: “We want to thank every person who has acquired off their BOTT and helped us.

“There are virtually too numerous to title, suffice to say, you know who you are and what you did Its tough to explain how we truly feel so we will not consider, it would be messy.

“We take huge power and comfort from you all. We could not have started out this journey with out the response to this campaign. You all truly did Help Hollie. You genuinely did #putyourpantsonyourhead.”

She urged men and women to continue registering to assist other individuals like Hollie in need to have of a donor.

“Although we are full of happiness we nevertheless have a extended way to go,” she wrote.

“We know there are a lot of Mums and Dads hunting out of a window correct now. Looking and wondering if that specific individual will join a bone marrow register to conserve their child’s lifestyle.

“Trust us, it is not a nice feeling. Believe in us when we say, it’s not a place you EVER want to be in. It is despair, concern and terror.

“Try &amp picture just for a moment. Consider and envision seeking for that one particular specific individual in the planet who could save your child’s daily life. It does not have to be like this. It could be various. It is straightforward, here is the answer, right here is the secret. Register as a bone marrow donor and inform your close friends to do the exact same.”

Mrs Clark added: “In a short time Anthony Nolan have grow to be component of us. They were there for us and we Confident AS HELL will be there for them. We cannot and will not walk away from them.

“We will get Hollie fixed &amp be back to assist soon. We will be returning the favour.

“Parents in a equivalent place, hold positive &amp remain sturdy.

“We will be there for you, that is a guarantee.”

Hollie, of Roath Park, Cardiff, was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood disorder which triggers a drop in the amount of wholesome blood cells in the physique, three months in the past.

Mrs Clark, a GP, stated: “It was an absolute shock, it is literally the worst point as a mother or father you could be advised.

“It was tough to believe simply because she’d been so lively at the time, she loves swimming and cycling and taking part in with her buddies, and she’d been performing all these issues without having us even understanding that her haemoglobin ranges were dangerously minimal.”

Following finding her younger brother Sam was not a match, her mother and father decided to take action to find 1 as speedily as attainable which led to the campaign.

In Cardiff, there was a two,600 per cent enhance in folks joining the register and, in the United kingdom as a total, the figure was 170 per cent compared to the same time final 12 months.

Karen Archer, regional register growth manager at Anthony Nolan mentioned: “We are completely delighted that a match has been discovered for Hollie and we want her and all of her loved ones the greatest of luck for the potential.”

To sign up to the register go to www.anthonynolan.org/helphollie.

Bone marrow donor located for girl, eight, following worldwide social media campaign

Stars pose with pants on their head to assist bone marrow patient Hollie Clark

When Hollie was recovering from her very first round of blood transfusions in hospital the only way a lot of her family members could talk with her was employing FaceTime.

Her uncle Matthew Clark put his underwear on his head to make her laugh even though he was talking to her on FaceTime and it sparked an notion for the campaign which is gathering tempo on Twitter.

^{Matthew Clark, Hollie’s uncle (Twitter)}

Welsh rugby player Sam Warburton kickstarted the viral trend when he tweeted a image of himself with pants on his and his puppy Ledley’s head.

^{Sam Warburton (Twitter)}

Athlete Jamie Baulch and sports commentator Jonathan Davies have also lent help, tweeting pictures and urging people to sign up to the Anthony Nolan donor register.

^{Jamie Baulch (Twitter)}

^{Johnathon Davies (Twitter)}

Mrs Clark said: “We’ve been completely thrilled by how a lot assistance we have previously had for this campaign.

“We’ve had responses from all over the planet currently.

“Obviously we’re desperate to find a donor for Hollie but this is not just for her, we realise the influence this can have for other households in the same situation.

“Even a single additional donor signing up could transform someone’s daily life.”

^(Twitter)

Hollie, of Roath Park, Cardiff, at first had to have two blood transfusions a week to improve her issue but she has now stabilised.

Mrs Clark, a GP, mentioned: “The only achievable treatment method is a bone marrow transplant, we can’t do something else other than preserve Hollie stable with blood transfusions until we locate a donor.

“They are currently seeking the registers but we considered we cannot just sit waiting and not do anything.”

^(Twitter)

Her parents’ concern was first raised when Hollie started out building mystery bruising.

Her mother took her to their physician who ran exams and sent Hollie to hospital that night.

“It was an absolute shock, it is virtually the worst point as a mother or father you could be told,” Mrs Clark mentioned.

^(Twitter)

“We are keen to uncover a donor while Hollie remains fairly stable, we do not want it to get to a stage where she is very unwell once again which will make the method more difficult.”

Stars pose with pants on their head to assist bone marrow patient Hollie Clark