Poland Allows U.S. Teacher to Stay With Mate

Polish authorities who threatened to expel American teacher Donna Sue Kersey abruptly relented today and granted her a residence permit which will allow her to remain in the nation with her Polish husband.

Kersey, 32, from Ashland, Ky., was due to leave today for the United States via West Germany with her 1-year-old daughter, Daniela, leaving her husband behind and ending a three-month fight to stay.

Just hours before her planned departure, Kersey was summoned twice by passport officials, receiving first a visa for a month’s reprieve and then the resident card.

“It was practically squeezed into my hands,” Kersey said. “It was very much a shock but a pleasant one. It has been a very emotional week for us and we now feel extremely happy that we can stay together with the baby.

“When we are ready to leave, we will leave together,” said Kersey, who has lived in Poland since 1981 and taught English at Wroclaw Polytechnic.

“Yes, we are sympathetic to the Solidarity movement,” she said in reply to a question. Their one-bedroom flat is decorated with pictures of Polish-born Pope John Paul II and Lech Walesa, leader of the banned trade union.