Omer Aidah came from Yemen to the United States for a better life, half a lifetime ago, but he now can’t work anymore. In October, his hand started shaking and he was diagnosed with cancer.

"I feel dizzy most of the time, headache," he said. "It’s very difficult."

Aidah had brain surgery in March to remove a tumor. He’s been on chemotherapy, but doctors have now told the 52-year-old he has one year to live.

"I never even think about that," he said. "The end is gonna come no mater what."

A devout Muslim, he turns to God. His faith gives him comfort, and he’ll need it.     

His wife and children are a half a world away in his home country of Yemen.  

“Your wife is like your half, your other half,” he said. "I’m sure I feel better when I see my wife and my kids.”

He's trying to bring them to the U.S.

“We started the process to bring them here as permanent residents," his immigration lawyer Edward Cuccia told NY1. "But he just can’t wait for that to take its normal path."

As a green card holder, Aidah, according to Cuccia, would be successful petitioning the government to get them here, but that process typically takes three years, time he doesn’t have.

“We’re looking for something called humanitarian emergency parole and that’s reserved for the most emergent cases,” Cuccia said. “I need community leaders, religious leaders, anyone from City Council, to the President of the United States to help us out because it really is an emergency request that we’re making.”

While his attorney looks for help from people, Aidah looks to a higher power.

“Nobody can help you, only him,” said Aidah.

He prays to God for his life and for an immigration miracle as well.

"Happiness, that’s why I want to see her [his wife] before anything happen to me," Aidah said.