U.S. Embassy Grants Dying Woman Last Wish to See Mother From Vietnam

August 31, 2017

A dying daughter’s wish to see her mother in the United States for the final time has finally been granted.

Trinh Phan, 33, moved to the U.S. in 2003 and gained her American citizenship in 2010. She was diagnosed with Metastatic Stage 4 Lung Cancer and Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome last month. After Phan was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, her family has been trying to have her mother in Vietnam come to the U.S.

Phan, who is currently confined at San Jose’s O’Connor Hospital, last saw her mother back in 2012, CBS reported. However, their initial request for a temporary travel visa was denied by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

According to ABC, Trinh’s mother had been turned down several times over concerns that she might stay longer after her visit. The family stated that she intends to return to her ailing husband and their grandchildren in Vietnam.

“She realizes that her mother will not be able to contain her own emotion, but the reunion is one that will be momentous for our family and in particular for Trinh, her husband Young, and her son David,” her sister-in-law, Kandice Nguyen, was quoted as saying.

Refusing to give up, the daughter of Phan’s sister-in-law, Katherine Le, created a petition on Change.org. The plea was able to gather more 16,000 signatures and catch the attention of Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose). The congresswoman then contacted the State Department and wrote to President Trump to reconsider the visa denial.

Le was puzzled that it took so much time and energy to have Phan’s mother brought over to say one final good-bye to her dying daughter. “Why does it take so much pressure to shed light on a simple humanitarian plea? A simple ask?” she told CBS SF Bay Area.

The family, overjoyed following the news of the reversal on Tuesday, are finalizing travel plans for Phan’s mom as of this writing.

Featured Image via YouTube / CBS SF Bay Area

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