Alexander Goodwin has been in Kansas City fighting cancer since December. Now, he is also fighting to stay in the United States until his treatment is complete.
The 9-year-old from the United Kingdom has gained a huge following online – more of a movement really – with the moniker “Alexander’s Journey.”
Thousands of supporters across the globe have followed Alexander, donating money and resources to help him through his rare bone cancer he was recently diagnosed with, Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Alexander’s father, Jeff, a police officer, somehow connected with KCK Police Chief Terry Zeigler, who found a way to bring the Goodwin family to Kansas City for Alexander’s life-saving treatment.
Although Alexander had his cancer-riddled femur removed at KU Hospital last month, the family has learned he still has months of chemo, radiation and physical therapy, which is a problem considering their visa expires in April.
Alexander’s supporters were incredible disheartened to see this tweet sent out Thursday.
Devastating news today that our immigration status only allows Alex to stay until April. He won't finish treatment until end of June. ?????
— Alexander's Journey (@alexs_journey) February 23, 2017
Alexander and his family weren't available for interviews Friday. However, Jeff, via KU Hospital, sent the following statement to 41 Action News:
“We arrived in the U.S. on a visa waiver. We traveled on short notice to meet Alexander’s immediate medical needs. The original plan was for his treatment to finish at the end of February and then we would fly back to the United Kingdom. Due to information about his health obtained in the last few weeks … it is necessary for us to continue with the treatment here to best maximize his chances of survival and enrich his life in the longer term. This treatment plan requires us to stay until the end of June and then return periodically for further treatment into his teenage life. This includes complex surgery in or around January, 2018. Our original period of stay was booked to the 13th of March, but we managed to obtained a 30 day extension until the 13th of April from the Department of Homeland Security USCIS. We are currently meeting with representatives who have pledged to do everything humanely possible to resolve this matter.”
41 Action News also confirmed one of the aforementioned representatives Goodwin met with was Kansas congressman Kevin Yoder.
Yoder sent the following statement to 41 Action News:
“One of the most important jobs I have as a member of congress is helping people in the third district who are having problems with the federal government. My staff has already met with Alexander’s family and we are going to do whatever we can to help them.”
41 Action News also met with Michael Sharma-Crawford, an immigration lawyer in Kansas City. According to the attorney, renewing the visa – which typically has a 90-day expiration – that Alexander has can be a simple process, but it would mean returning to the UK briefly.
"Should be really easy to renew, yeah,” he said. “If they're on a visa waiver then that's the problem- well, just tag up; leave and then come back."
But the family worries traveling back to The UK simply to "tag up" may be too stressful on Alexander's health. That's why many hope the representatives Goodwin mentioned pull through.
Goodwin also said Friday’s statement that Alex is “in a period of rest and recuperation following a week of chemotherapy.”
He added, “We appreciate the calls and public support, and apologize but it is impossible to engage individually. Thank you for all your generosity.”
Alexander also has another complex surgery scheduled in Kansas City for roughly January 2018.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
