Foreign mother may be sent home while child treated for cancer

[marmar]

By Marcus K. Garner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


A mother whose daughter is suffering a rare form of cancer at an area hospital could be asked to leave early next month.

Barbados resident Petrah Gooding brought her 7-year-old daughter Niamh Stoute to Atlanta in November to be treated for neuroblastoma at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Aflac Cancer center.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement extended Niamh’s nine-month visitor’s visa to allow her to continue receiving treatment, but Gooding was told she would have to leave her daughter’s side on Sept. 2.

“I’m at a loss for why they would approve an extension for my daughter and not for the mother who is taking care of her,” Gooding told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution by phone Thursday evening.

Immigration officials declined to discuss how how Gooding was denied the same extension as her daughter, but spokeswoman Ana Santiago said the issue was being investigated.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. While we cannot discuss an individual case due to privacy laws, we are looking into this matter urgently," Santiago said. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/news/foreign-mother-may-be-600586.html

[Skittles]

1. inhumane

[ThomCat]

5. Incredibly inhumane.

I'll bet it's a mostly automated system in place, and a person didn't even look at her case before the decision was made.

I'll bet nobody realized or cared that she was a mom here with her child until the brought this to their attention, even though they had that information in their records.

They simply don't bother to read their records first and treat people like human beings when they make decisions.

:(

[babylonsister]

2. What the hell is the difference? One person, major extenuating

circumstances? This is enraging if true. :grr::grr:

Someone needs to find a heart.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. WTF is wrong with this country?

[foxfeet]

4. Truly stupid. nt

[CurtEastPoint]

6. Let's see how quickly Chambliss and Isakson, GA's 2 GOP dumbass senators help her out.

I will be shocked (seriously) if they lift a finger.