HOUSTON (November 25, 2015)

Just in time for Thanksgiving, a young girl is deeply grateful for the news she received earlier today, that her only wish in life is about to come true. For weeks Qirat Chappra, a chronically-ill 18-year-old patient at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, has been pleading with the government, and the public, to do whatever they can to help get her parents who live in Pakistan to the United States so she can see them again.

Chappra is in critical condition at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and unable to travel, while her parents’ visa requests have been denied repeatedly. Wednesday morning the family got the call that visas for her mother and father have now been approved and, according to the family, Chappra could be reunited with her parents as soon as next week.

Here is the family’s official statement:

“We are happy to inform you that Qirat's parents' visa application was approved. We are overjoyed by this news, and it could not have come at a more perfect time. We have so much to give thanks for today: Qirat’s parents are going to get to come see her again. Qirat has been waiting for this day for over a decade and it’s the only thing she has wanted since then. We are grateful to everyone who signed the petition and helped make this wish a reality for Qirat and her parents. A big thanks to all the media outlets for your support in getting our story out there. Also, a special thanks to Congressman John Culberson's office and Gordon Quan's law office who helped and guided us every step of the way. May God bless all of you. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as Qirat’s health is still very poor. We also ask that you please respect our privacy now and allow the family to enjoy and cherish this time together in peace. If you have any questions or wish to contact us, please go through the hospital’s communications department.”