Rep. Israel: Feds To Let Filipino Woman Into U.S. To Donate Kidney To L.I. Woman

OLD BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The feds have cleared the way for a life-saving kidney transplant for a Long Island woman.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has granted humanitarian parole to Caroline Dela Cruz of the Philippines who will donate a kidney to her friend, 75-year-old Esther Slubski of Old Bethpage.

"We have been making the case that Esther's life depends on a decision to allow her friend into the United States to donate a kidney and after all these months I'm very pleased that American officials listened to us," Rep. Steve Israel told 1010 WINS.

Dela Cruz had been denied a visa four times, prohibiting her from traveling to the United States for the surgery.

"She went to the consulate in the Philippines and was told that they would not allow her in; I thought that decision was just outrageous," Israel said. "This woman doesn't want to come to the U.S. to take somebody's job, she wants to come to the U.S. to give somebody a kidney."

Slubski is suffering from end stage renal disease and Israel said without the kidney transplant her life is in grave danger.

Dela Cruz is expected to go to the U.S. Embassy in Manila this week.

"She'll be able to stay in America for six months, during that time she is donating her kidney to Esther and then she is going to return to the Philippines," Israel said.

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