An Ottawa family of five could be torn apart unless the federal government intervenes. David Barry's dying wish is for his wife and kids to stay in the country they now call home.

"I don't have the time anymore. I don't have years and years. My final wish is for the government to do the right thing and protect my wife."

Barry has terminal cancer and about six months left to live. The once proud working man is collecting social assistance for one and trying to feed five.

Barry, the sole breadwinner, is also trying to protect his wife's life and deal with the heartache of watching their youngest son, Joshua, battle brain cancer.

Barry's wife and two other children are not Canadian citizens. When he dies, they will be deported back to Costa Rica where the couple met 13 years ago.

"I'm scared, very scared," said wife Jorleny Vargas Campos.

Campos says she fled Costa Rica with Barry because she feared for her life. She says the two eldest children were born to a man who locked her up and raped her as a teen.

"This family has been under enormous physical and emotional stress," says Barry's lawyer Zak Tatomirovic-Manula.

The family could be ripped apart not only because Barry has a short time left to live, but because son Joshua is Canadian-born. He would be allowed to stay -- and the family would want him to stay because of the cancer-care he receives at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

"She cannot bring him there because there is no health care and this is really an H and C application and we need a firm and fast answer," said Barry's lawyer.

Ottawa-Centre MP Paul Dewar has been trying to help.

"Our country is a compassionate country. We want a reasonable resolution. We're not asking for anyone to go past the rules that exist. We just need to make sure that the timelines are understood."

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney's office said it can't comment on specific cases but did say it is aware of this family. If financial or medical considerations are keeping their application from being complete, they can apply for special considerations.

Navigating through Canada's immigration laws has proven to be timely for a family that says they don't have much time left.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Kimothy Walker