Teen With Cancer Hopes to See Parents Before Dying

— -- A Texas teenager facing a life-threatening illness is hoping she can see her family one last time.

Qirat Chapra hasn't seen her parents since arriving in the U.S. as a child to treat multiple illnesses, including lymphoma and chronic lung disease.

"I’ve been here 13 years and I’ve been in and out of the hospital ever since," Chapra told ABC News. "I have a lot of family members and relatives here and they’re really great and so supportive, but there’s nothing like your parents."

She said she just wants to share a few simple experiences with her parents in person, instead of only talking with them on the phone or by email.

Chapra, 18, is a patient at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston where she is being treated for T-cell lymphoma and other illnesses, including lung disease and pneumonia.

Neelam Ghanchi, an aunt who’s caring for the teen, told ABC News station KTRK that Chapra was born in the United States, moved to Pakistan but then returned to the U.S. at the age of four when she first became sick. She has been separated from her family in South Asia ever since.

"I'm only surviving because of all these prayers and all this belief and living up to each day that my parents would come hug me," Chapra told KTRK-TV.

Her aunt said the family is hoping that their visas will be approved so they can visit Chapra one last time.

"I really want them here," Chapra told ABC News. "I want to see them before I get really sick and can’t do anything with them."

Thousands have signed an on online petition that asks the Obama administration to grant visas to Chapra's family.

Chapra is not in hospice care, hospital officials said, but her condition is extremely serious.