Woman's dying wish to see brother denied amid visa dispute

Critically ill woman denied dying wish to reunite with brother amid visa dispute In short: Living with an excruciating bone disease, Anna Rochford's dying wish is to see her brother one last time. She would previously visit him in India every year but is now too unwell to travel, and visa applications for him to come to Australia have been repeatedly denied. The federal government says it has considered "the compassionate and compelling reasons for travel" but is not satisfied the applicant has met all requirements. Anna Rochford lives with a debilitating condition that feels like "acid is being poured into [her] bones 24/7". She has avascular necrosis, which is causing her bones to die, leaving her unable to walk for 10 years. At 36 kilograms, the 57-year-old's disease is so severe her doctor says her life span has been greatly shortened. "It is so painful … I don't wish this on anyone, the doctors have never seen anything like it," she said. Her dying wish is to see her brother Clinton Barrett one last time. The siblings were sent to separate orphanages as young children in India after their mother died, only reconnecting when Ms Rochford was a teenager, and discovering they were two of five siblings. "All three have died, so it's only him and me … he is the only family I've ever known," she said. She would previously visit him in India every year but is now too unwell to travel — instead applying for him to come to Australia on a sponsored visa. But the Australian government has repeatedly denied the applications. "They keep saying no, they're satisfied he's going to do a runner and they're not allowing him to come," Ms Rochford said. Desperate plea Ms Rochford and her husband intend to pay for all her brother's travel expenses, and have offered a security bond, as well as medical certification. In a letter seen by the ABC, Ms Rochford's doctor said she had "suffered immeasurable distress as a result of her condition" with a poor prognosis and "significantly" reduced life expectancy. He wrote it was his medical opinion that she would never be fit to travel again, and "compassion and common sense would dictate that her relatives be allowed to visit Australia" to see her. Ms Rochford also provided documentation outlining her brother's ties to his home country, including a wife and son who depend on him, stable employment, and ongoing community commitments. After three refusals in a year, she said she was starting to give up hope. "It's just scary because I'd like him to come while I can at least talk to him a little bit before it gets worse. What's the point then?" she said. "Once my bones die completely … I'm just flesh, and all they can do is manage the pain." Through tears, husband Paul Rochford said he had watched his wife's deterioration. "I don't want to say it because I don't want her to die, but she's on the slide," he said. "There's no cure … she's been through every drug imaginable — it only knocks about five to ten per cent of her pain off." He said having her brother visit would mean "more than you can possibly imagine". "She doesn't have too much to look forward to, she lives in that chair,"he said. Government denies visa three times In decision statements seen by the ABC, the Department of Home Affairs said the applicant had not provided enough detail of personal finances. "In the absence of such information, I am not satisfied the applicant's financial circumstances would induce them to return home at the end of their proposed stay," the decision read. It added that while sponsor support from the Rochfords had been considered, it was "not in itself sufficient evidence that a genuine temporary stay is intended by the applicant". "Although I have considered and given weight to the claimed reason for travel and the compassionate and compelling reasons for travel, they do not in themselves negate the requirement that the delegated decision maker is satisfied that the applicant meets all requirements," the decision read. In a statement, a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said it could not comment on individual cases, but that all applicants "must genuinely intend to visit Australia temporarily; have, or have access to, adequate means to support themselves for the duration of their visit; and intend to comply with all visa conditions and stay periods". "All visa applications are assessed based on the information provided by the applicant and on a case-by-case basis," the statement read. For the Rochfords, it's another devastating blow. "It's like putting a knife in her every time they say no," Mr Rochford said. "I can't help with the disease, and I can't help with immigration. So, I feel a little bit useless. "All I can do is be there and love her, which I do."