MANILA, Philippines – Maria Victoria Venancio, a Filipino working in Edmonton, Canada on a temporary visa, was biking to work to a McDonalds franchise in 2013 when she was hit by a car.

The accident left Venancio without the use of her legs and limited use of her hands, making her unable to work. (READ: Will quadriplegic Filipino worker in Canada be deported?)

Venancio entered the country through a temporary work visa and under Canadian law, she should not have been able to renew it due to her condition. Because of this, she has been living in Canada illegally since her work visa expired and has no medical coverage. 

Earlier this year, Venancio was unsure if she would be deported. Now, she doesn’t need to worry about deportation – at least for the next two years, after she was granted another two-year work permit.

Edmonton MP and Minister for State Multiculturalism Tim Uppal told Venancio the news on July 24. “I was very pleased to be able to tell that news to Vicky in person,” Uppal told CBC News.

“I’m in heaven right now,” Venancio told CBC News. “It’s not only my victory. It’s [for] everyone who is supporting me and praying for me.”

Back in the Philippines, “her family lives 3 hours from a major center and the simple lack of infrastructure would present incredible challenges to her,” her lawyer Chris Bataluk told CTV News.

Bataluk said: “She’s becoming more independent. And here in Canada, where we have things we take for granted, like paved streets and DATS buses, she has the opportunity to progress and live a relatively fulfilling life.”

Venancio is also suing her former employer for medical and disability coverage. According to local media reports, Alberta’s health minister met with Venancio and said she would try to restore Venancio’s health benefits.

At present, she is receiving free treatment at the University of Alberta.

Canada’s immigration laws have been under heat by immigration activists lately, especially the “4 and 4 rule,” which was introduced in 2011. The rule mandates that temporary workers who have entered Canada after April 1, 2011 can work in the country for 4 years, but must leave again for 4 years before being allowed re-entry. 

Prior to this rule, workers could simply reapply for another work permit and continue staying in Canada.  This law could force at least 70,000 migrants to leave Canada. 

Before being granted the new permit, Venancio was issued an exclusion order in a deportation hearing – which would not allow her to return to Canada if she left. – Rappler.com