The mother of Alicja Stawkowski has expressed her heartbreak that her sick daughter was refused entry to the US to be near her family and teenage son, after her body was found at Lands End in Cornwall.
Police had been appealing for information to trace the 37-year old, who suffered from depression and who went missing from her home address in Hackney on November 5.
But last Tuesday the body of a woman - who has not yet been formally identified, but who is believed to be Alicja - was found by police.
Her mother Malgorzata Stawkowski, had been pleading with the US immigration service and Congressmen since September to try and get her daughter readmitted to the country, after her Green Card expired.
After suffering thyroid cancer three years ago, the former Delta airlines flight attendant and University of Deleware graduate was plunged into a spiral of depression.
Malgorzata described how blocking Alicja from being near her family and 16-year-old son Aleksander made the family feel “deep despair”, and left her feeling helpless not to be able to care for her sick daughter.
Alicja, who was on medication and had received treatment at mental health clinics in the UK, had been living in Hackney and working at a café in central London whilst waiting to hear of news she could return to the US.
In a letter to the US immigration service Malgorzata wrote: “Alicja has been forced to seek employment in London while diligently pursuing therapy. This is terribly difficult for her to manage. She is overcome with sadness, and grief, and cries daily.
“We are already an immigrant family that has lost our ties to Poland.”
The family emigrated from Communist Poland in 1986 and gained refugee status, but despite growing up in the US, Alicja was never given citizenship.
Malgorzata told the Gazette how her “heart is broken in pieces”.
“She ended up in Cornwall where you know, it is like the most western place in England, Lands End, and you have that sign over there pointing to New York.
“I think she wanted to be close to us, close to the States,” she said.
“Alicja had a big heart, she was a very beautiful artist she painted beautiful paintings, she was a very nice person, she never hurt anybody she was perfect.
“They separated us, and it’s so hard, I feel like my world collapsed. We are living through horror.
“I just can’t imagine a day of my life without herm because she is a part of me.
“I’m devastated I have to go to the UK take Alicja home.”
Malgorzata Stawkowski
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here