After four attempts, woman's dying wish to see brother finally granted

A critically ill woman with a rare and excruciating bone condition has been granted her final wish to reunite with her brother.

Anna Rochford, who has avascular necrosis, has spent months trying to see her brother after repeated visa knock backs from the Australian government.

After ABC News shared her story last month, the family received some much-needed good news that her brother would be allowed into the country to say goodbye.

"I didn't believe it. I still freak out every now and then,"

she said.

The Rochford family had been trying to get Anna's brother approval to travel to Australia from India for more than a year, but the government had repeatedly denied his visa, saying it did not believe he intended to return home.

After media coverage and representations from their local MP Louise Miller-Frost, the fourth and final sponsored visa application was finally granted, and Clinton Barrett flew to Australia within days.

But their reunion has been bittersweet.

Anna has been unable to walk for 10 years, but when she first applied for Clinton's visa, she was still able to leave the house in her wheelchair.

"The idea a year-and-a-half ago was to take her on a trip with him in Australia to show [them] things, you know, but not anymore, she can't make it to the letter box," husband Paul Rochford said.

Now, Anna is essentially bed bound and only conscious for a few minutes at a time.

It is the first time Clinton has ever left India, and he plans to spend the entirety of his trip by his sister's side until his return flight on December 1.

"People think, okay, you're going to Australia, you'll be meeting your family, you'll be going here, you'll be going there — no, I'm not wanting to go anywhere," her brother said.

"I won't go anywhere that my sister cannot go, she's there in the chair, I'm beside her."

And while the family are enjoying every precious minute together, the reality of the situation is not lost.

"I love my sister; I don't want to see her suffer like this. I don't want her to go either … it's very difficult," Mr Barrett said.

A month since first speaking to the ABC, her condition has continued to decline.

As well as agonising pain throughout her body, she has not been able to eat for more than two weeks.

"She's near death. I don't think she'll make Christmas. Clinton might be here for her funeral," Mr Rochford said.

A life of separation

Orphaned and sent to different parts of India as young children, Anna and Clinton are now the only remaining members of their family.

They met in their late teenage years, and remained in contact, with Anna and Paul visiting Clinton in India every year before she became too unwell to travel.

Mr Barrett said after years of separation as children, he had hoped they could spend time more together as adults.

"So, when I come to my sister being like this, it's very painful seeing her," he said.

"I cannot ask her, 'How are you?' — I know how she is. And I can't wish her good morning, because her mornings are not good."

But he said he cannot fear what comes next.

"I had this one fear that I would never get to see her again. Besides that, I have no more fear, no fear whatsoever. I cannot fear seeing what she lives with," he said.

And Anna says she is finally at peace.

"Now, I don't care what happens to me … Clint's been here, I get to say goodbye. I'm happy," she said.

For her husband Paul, it is a painful reality.

"I don't want her to die because I love her," he said.

But he said he was pleased her dying wish had finally been granted.

"I'm glad this could be done for Anna. It was the one thing left in her life she wanted," he said.

"I'm just glad I met her … I think it's going on 19 years together now — best thing that ever happened in my life."