After two visa rejections and weeks of waiting, Arthur Yu’s cousin in the Philippines has received his visa and can fly to the U.S. to donate his stem cells.
Yu, a 41-year-old new father from Miracle Mile, has been diagnosed with a fatal blood disease — acute myeloid leukemia or A.M.L. — and a stem cell transplant would give him an 80% chance of survival.
About the approval
The cousin, a 46-year-old man living in the Philippine countryside, is Yu’s strongest match for a transplant.
But when his request for a visa was rejected by the State Department in late December, and again earlier this month, their family asked Sen. Alex Padilla for assistance. Padilla’s office made congressional inquiries on behalf of the cousin after each rejection.
In an Instagram video filmed from a Cedars-Sinai infusion bay, Yu said his cousin received his visa last week and is now approved to travel for the transplant.
He thanked Padilla, and Congressman Adam Schiff, for all their help and private lobbying.
“I am glad my office was able to assist Mr. Yu with his case to receive the life-saving care that he needs,” Padilla said in a statement. “My team and I will continue to provide federal assistance to all Californians.”
Yu said the next step is for his doctor and transplant team to come up with a timeline and share it with him and his donor cousin. He said he can’t wait to get the political stuff behind them so he can focus on treatment and healing.
Part of a bigger problem
Yu shares his struggle with a network of cancer patients from immigrant families whose relatives in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have fought for visas to make…
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