I spent Friday morning at the US Consulate trying to get a medical visa for Jerrensia. Jerrensia was born with arthrogryposis and bilateral club feet. The arthrogryposis involves her hips, knees and ankles. She might be able to receive non surgical intervention if she receives treatment while her bones are still green and bendable.
Until the doctor gets Jerrensia to the USA and sees her, I do not think he knows exactly what he will need to do to get her walking. Right now, her legs are so bent that she is trying to stand up and just cannot stand on her feet!
The officer that denied her visa did not give me a reason. I asked and he handed me a form letter that says she was denied and that is all. This is the first time that I can remember that a visa was denied for one of GLA’s medical cases. First time in 19 years!!!
We have worked hard to get a good reputation for GLA and I have worked with the US Consulate on getting many children out for medical care. I have not been to the US Consulate since our American adoptive children were evacuated. Today, the staff is all new. I told this officer to go and talk to the Immigration and Adoption section. That they know me well. I am not sure that he knew what he was doing for a medical visa. He left the window at least 4 times to check with someone else about her case.
I need people to please contact your representatives and senators and asking them to call the US Consulate and find out why this Haitian child needing medical care was denied. I had all the paperwork that they asked for. The only thing I did not have with me was the birth mother. She did not come to the orphanage until 7 AM and I left at 5:30 AM. She was on her way with a staff member but did not arrive before Jerrensia’s name was called.
Please contact your local senator and also Senator Mary Landrieu. She is a huge advocate of children’s rights and especially children in Haitian orphanages! Go to Senator Landrieu’s web site http://landrieu.senate.gov/ and click in the top right corner where it says contact Senator Landrieu.
Tell her about Jerrensia CHARLES #AA00131H4N. (This is her visa application number) Ask her to help Jerrensia. Ask your own State Senators or Congressmen to help too!
I do not want Jerrensia to stay handicapped because a young officer at the US Consulate made a decision that she could not receive the free care that has been offered to her in the USA.
I have 3 more children needing medical visas right now. Will they deny them all randomly without giving reasons? I pray that they won’t. But we all must act now. I will not just walk away from this. Jerrensia deserves a “mama” to fight for her and that is all of us that act!
Posted on Fri, November 19, 2010
by Dixie Bickel