THE Home Office has reversed its decision not to allow May Brown's sister in to the county for a stem cell donor operation. 

As reported in the Echo, May, who is from Nigeria but now lives in Weymouth with her British husband and their daughter, aged two, is suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia and needs a stem cell transplant.

Attempts to find a donor in the UK proved fruitless but there is one woman who is a 10 out of 10 match- May's sister Martha. 

However, Matha's temporary visa application was denied by the Home Office, despite May providing evidence that she would pay for her sister's short trip to the UK. 

Since being featured in the Echo, May's story has picked up international coverage and more than 60,000 people signed a petition in the last week to urge to Home Office to change its mind.

A solicitor and a barrister also came forward to work on May's case pro bono. 

Today, Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill, said: “I have carefully considered the case of May Brown and decided that her sister will be granted leave to enter the UK given the compassionate and exceptional circumstances.”

Talking to the Echo this afternoon May, who has been in hospital for the last three months, said: "I understand they [the Home Office] are doing their jobs but there are special circumstances and my sister doesn't want to stay in the UK; she has no intention to stay in the UK or of working here or using public funds.

"She has gone to the embassy today; her visa is for six months so we could get a flight this weekend.

"I am so grateful for all the support, thank you so much to everyone who has helped."

May says she is positive about the outcome of the stem cell transplant. She has seen the doctor today who says there is a good chance of a result because Martha is such a close match.

May has two more rounds of chemotherapy and will hopefully go in to remission. 

In a statement earlier, she said: “I am overjoyed for the u-turn the Home Office has taken regarding my sister Martha’s visa application. I would like to thank every single person who signed the petition! Your support is what has kept me positive. I would also like to thank ACLT. I will forever be grateful for the love and support they have shown my family and me.”