Mother gave up career to care for her son

Boy diagnosed with autism

Stefka insists she owes her nine-year-old son all that she can give him. “I believe any parent’s desire is to see their children thrive and to see their children flourish — to do well in life, to be independent and to be happy,” she said. But for the single mother, giving her son the tools he needs to thrive has been a never-ending battle. He was diagnosed with Level 2 autism at a young age, she explained, and therefore requires a lot of support. Unable to secure a spot in a specialized daycare or school for the first years of his life, Stefka resorted to home-schooling him as he sat on waiting list after waiting list. She stopped working in order to care for her son full time. “I was a very active individual who was pursuing my career and functioning very well,” she recalled. Before the birth of her son, she had just received a diploma in real estate and was working a parttime job. Now, her son is enrolled at Summit School, which serves special-needs students. While the school does all it can to support him, given its resources, Stefka is concerned that without one-on-one therapy, “he won’t be able to strive.” “With help, he can become a very productive member of society,” she insisted, citing his affinity for math. Though her son is occupied for a portion of the day during the week, Stefka said she cannot take on any work or enrol in classes to further her education due to the number of days off he has, during which students do not receive any support. The constant fight for support for her son and the numerous legal battles with her son’s father have taken their toll on Stefka. She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, she said. “I have been forced in a way to forfeit working, forfeit my health, in order to … invest my time to concentrate on my son.” To make this year’s holiday season a little easier for Stefka and her young son, she will be receiving a $125 cheque from the Montreal Gazette Christmas Fund. Every year, the fund helps thousands of Montrealers in need. Stefka said the cheque will help fill gaps in her income, allowing her to buy some extra food for the holidays.