Visit the sick – The story of Promise Ekpe and his brother

“Christ has no body but yours, no hands no feet on earth but yours.”

This year’s theme for the Catholic Charities Annual Appeal, “Christ has no body but yours, no hands no feet on earth but yours,” pertains to the seven Corporal Works of Mercy. Corporal meaning from the body, and mercy commonly meaning a gift or kindness. Something done from the body that is a gift of kindness. That is exactly the story of Promise Ekpe and his brother. 

Promise is a young man from Nigeria. He has been a legal and productive resident of the United States for several years. He has a beautiful wife and family. After their incredible journey from Nigeria to the United States, and achieving the American dream, Promise was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and Aplastic Anemia. Both are caused by a gene mutation, and in cases as severe as Promise’s, the only treatment is a bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor. According to the Institute of Justice, 75% of people of African American descent requiring a bone marrow transplant perish as a result of not finding a compatible donor. There was not a single match in the bone marrow registry for Promise. All of Promise’s family volunteered to be tested and only his brother was a match. 

Promise’s brother still lives in Nigeria. His daily life is in devotion to others. He works in a boarding school in Nigeria, helping shape the minds of young people. He cares for his family and spends all his free time caring for his and Promise’s mother. When Promise’s brother learned that Promise needed a transplant, he did not hesitate. He endured a long journey to a hospital to test his bone marrow and underwent a painful procedure, but he knew he was Promise’s only chance of survival.  

Promise was given mere months to live and frantically began the immigration process to allow his brother to come to the United States and donate his bone marrow. Promise sent several applications for a Humanitarian Visa for his brother, and every single time the applications were denied. Promise had almost given up, until he contacted Catholic Charities and hope was restored. 

The Immigration Legal Services Department of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City began the monumental effort to obtain a Humanitarian Visa. There had been several prior denials, but the team began a fight against a ticking clock with a consultation with Promise. It was determined that a Humanitarian Visa Application was viable, and the arduous task of document collection and drafting began. This process required affidavits, financial statements, and many other documents from Promise’s brother and his associates in Nigeria, Promise and his associates in Oklahoma and the Immigration Legal Services team. 

On April 1, 2021, the application packet to request authorization for Promise’s brother to travel to Oklahoma was sent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Two months later, light-speed for USCIS, the application was approved. Promise’s brother traveled to Oklahoma, the transplant was performed, Promise’s brother was allowed time to heal and he traveled back to Nigeria. The transplant was successful. Promise was discharged from the hospital in August of 2021 and is on the road to a full recovery! 

Due to the hard work and effort lead by the Immigration Legal Services Department of Catholic Charities, Promise’s brother was allowed to visit the sick and to care for the ill. Now, Promise’s future is no longer in jeopardy, and because of donations to the annual appeal, he will go on and perform the seven Corporal Works of Mercy for others.

Live out the faith through this work. Make a gift today! To give to the Catholic Charities Annual Appeal, visit givetocc.org.


Photo: Catholic Charities employees with Promise Ekpe. (L to R) Miriam Martinez, Kenia Castillo, Promise Ekpe, Sara Bobbitt, Mayra Montenegro and Yenth Chaidez. Photo provided.