Deportation-worried family in fresh crisis

Jennifer Edney was seen by doctors at London's Royal Brompton Hospital on Tuesday. Her family was told she has a substantial hole-in-the heart which will have to be operated on in December.

At a time when Jennifer will need the loving care of her parents Jirawan Jeffery, originally from Thailand, and Peter Edney, of Gladstone Terrace, the news has only added to the pressure on the family. As the Gazette reported last month, the couple were shocked to receive a letter from the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate, telling Mrs Jeffery she had to leave the country "as soon as possible" because her English was not good enough.

Worthing Hospital consultant paediatrician Dr Anil Garg, who referred Jennifer to the Royal Brompton, has written an open letter on behalf of the family setting out the little girl's medical condition, and stressing that when the time comes for the surgery, "it will be important for Jennifer to have all the support she needs. I would recommend that she is not separated from her mother at the present."

Mr Edney told the Gazette yesterday (Wednesday): "Jennifer will be in the hospital for seven to 10 days for the operation, and after that she will be off school for another four weeks. She will need her mother through all this, but we still don't know what is happening about the deportation case.

"We have a three-year-old son, too, and I can't look after them on my own if my wife is taken away, especially with Jennifer's operation coming up.

"It's a very anxious time and we are really struggling to cope with it all."

Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb took up the family's case with a Government minister, after meeting them to discuss the situation.

He said at the time he felt the couple had been "treated very badly" by the Home Office, adding: "I am taking up their case with the Minister and am optimistic that when the case is reviewed by a more senior civil servant, sense will prevail."

Mr Edney said he would be passing on information about Jennifer's operation to Mr Gibb. "Hopefully he will get somewhere with the authorities '” they won't talk to me."