Overseas Filipino worker Juana Tejada’s dreams are simple: to live in Canada with her family.

"Dream ko? Plano ko makaumpisa dito, sponsor my husband, at makuha ko ang parents ko para maalagaan ko sila sa kanilang pagtanda, and to help sa mga kapatid ko and their families...Gusto ko silang tulungan," Tejada said.

However, circumstances are making it difficult for her to fulfill those dreams. In 2006, Tejada found out, after a medical check-up, that she has stage 4 colon cancer.

The 38-year-old caregiver from Abra arrived in Alberta last 2003 to work as a nanny.

Under the live-in caregiver program, Tejada applied for a permanent residency status after three years.

Her application was not approved by the Canada Immigration and Citizenship Office because of her health condition.

"While I am sympathetic to your situation, I am not satisfied that these circumstances justify granting an exemption. In the opinion of a medical officer, this health condition might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health and social services," said the Alberta Citizenship and Immigration Office.

Tejada is now worried because she fears that she would not be able to continue her treatment if the Canadian government deports her to the Philippines.

Not losing hope, Tejada appealed against her deportation. She and her husband were given an extension until December to stay in Canada.

Support from friends and concerned individuals pour in for Tejada. Her legal counsel hopes that this will convince the Canadian government to allow her and her family to stay in the country.

"They're bound by the law. The law says that anyone who can be an excessive demand for Canada's medical services is inadmissible to Canada, but the law also states that the minister can grant exemptions based on humanitarian reasons," Tejada’s lawyer said.

The Canadian government sympathized with Tejada’s condition and promised to shoulder a portion of her medical bills amounting to $15,000.

For Tejada and her supporters, this gesture is not enough. The group staged a picket to urge the Canadian government not to deport Tejada. -- With reports from Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN News and Marlou Tiro ABS-CBN Toronto, Canada