Mother’s visa fear

By Nicole Williams
A DANDENONGNorth mother faces an uncertain future if a medical visa is not granted to help her care for her sick daughter.
Mauritian-born Maria Inna Labour was in Australia on a student visa when her daughter Amy was born and diagnosed with Turner Syndrome – an incurable genetic condition which occurs in about one in every 2000 births and requires ongoing treatment.
Amy is currently seeing specialists at Monash Medical Centre and is waiting to have two surgeries.
But Ms Labour’s student visa has expired and her first application for a medical visa was refused because it was missing a letter from Amy’s doctor.
A second application was submitted on Monday but she fears for her 13-month-old daughter’s future if it is unsuccessful and they are deported to Mauritius.
“I can’t deport because my daughter needs treatment,” she said.
“I don’t know what will happen if I go back to my country.”
Ms Labour fears the treatment in Mauritius will not be enough.
Turner Syndrome is only diagnosed in females and occurs when the standard two pairs of X chromosomes are missing.
Young children show symptoms of swollen feet and hands and a webbed neck but Turner Syndrome also causes growth and hormone issues in older females.
Heart defects, diabetes and arthritis are common complications.
“She needs to have treatment all the time to see what kind of troubles may develop,” Ms Labour said.
“I am so worried – she’s just so little.”
Southern Health spokesperson Suzana Talevski said Southern Health was supportive of Amy continuing treatment at the Monash Medical Centre and had made that clear to the Immigration Department.
An Immigration Department spokesperson said the department had been working with the family so they could remain in Australia and there were no immediate plans to deport them.
If her second visa application is refused, they can have the case reviewed by the Migration Review Tribunal.