Christmas Fund: Her son’s autism prevents Sarah from working as bills pile up

Sarah arrived in Canada in 2022 with her two young boys and the hope of building a stable future.

Originally from Algeria, she was selected to immigrate through Canada’s skilled-worker program and was expecting to work quickly after arriving. She has a background in banking and communications. But caring for her eldest son has made that a challenge.

Adam, 12, is autistic. He attends a specialized high school in Hochelaga, which is far from their home downtown.

Her six-year-old, Sam, is in elementary school just east of downtown.

For now, her days remain a mix of caring for her children, getting them to school and getting her eldest to his appointments.

“All the time I’m running around,” she said.

“I don’t work; I dedicate all my time to my children,” Sarah explained. Caring for Adam, she said, prevents her from being able to hold down a job.

His condition also means he needs medication, though since arriving she has tried repeatedly to find one that helps.

“We’ve tried six medications since I came here, and they haven’t worked for him,” she said.

The latest attempt, in late November, failed and she is now considering alternative therapies.

Adam is “becoming more aggressive and unwell,” she said.

He is physically strong for his age, she explained. “He’s barely 12 years old, but he looks almost 18. He’s the same height as me.”

This makes the relationship harder for Sarah to manage when he gets aggressive.

Sarah is counting on her family’s situation to improve. Last September, she travelled back to Algeria for her wedding ceremony. Her husband remains there and plans to join her through the sponsorship process.

“I hope everything will be all right so he can come and help me,” she said.

For now, she hopes Christmas will bring her boys some joy. She said her eldest “likes everything” while “the younger one loves trains.”

But money remains tight.

“I have my credit card and it’s maxed out,” she said.

The Christmas Fund, she said, will help her pay that off “a little bit” amid the daily pressures she faces alone.

How to help

The person cited in this article is representative of those your donations will help. Because of resource limitations and privacy restrictions, The Gazette cannot accept non-monetary contributions. Donations to the Gazette Christmas Fund can be made online at christmasfund.com. Please direct all inquiries to christmasfundinquiries@postmedia.com.

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