The Hull Daily Mail and East Riding Mail have won a campaign to allow a Ukrainian orphan to stay in the UK for life-changing treatment.

Four simple words – “for an indefinite period” – stamped on a passport delivered to her carers in East Yorkshire means Luda Balan need never return to her former bleak existence in a Ukrainian orphanage.

The Home Office granted the two-year-old permission to stay for life-enhancing surgery that she needs after receiving more than 2,000 petition forms signed by Mail readers. Her plight and radiant smile had captured the hearts of people across East Yorkshire.

Luda has a complex condition called Amioplasia. No one knows if she will ever walk properly because her genetic disabilities are so severe, but at least now there is a possibility of treatment that can give her a bright future.

With the skills of surgeons at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the dedicated care of physiotherapy specialists and the love of the her carers, Elaine and Jerry Chomyszak, who live near Driffield in the East Riding, Luda’s condition will improve.

Long years of treatment still lie ahead but Elaine, (58), who fell in love with Luda in January 2000 when she travelled to an orphanage south of Kiev to deliver clothes, toys and food, said: “I still can’t believe we have won – what a terrific achievement for the Mail’s readers and all the people who have supported us.”

After the Home Office ruling, staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital confirmed that Luda’s treatment would start on the NHS within weeks.

Hospital chief executive Chris Sharratt said: “I don’t think there would have been anything the Ukrainian doctors could have done for her. She would have grown into a severely disabled adult if she had been sent back there. This happy ending is a fantastic story.”

Mail Editor John Meehan said: “Luda has touched the hearts of all those who have become aware of her plight. The response to our campaign has been truly remarkable.

“It is wonderful that our readers have persuaded the Home Office to give her the chance of a happy life.”

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