Between Despair and Hope – One Phone Call

A story not about weakness. But about strength. Not about collapse. But about survival. About a woman who did not give up when life shattered into pieces.

Olga, a Ukrainian economist and a future mother, arrived in Canada in 2023 together with her husband, fleeing from war. It seemed the path was already paved – agreed temporary housing with acquaintances, government support programs, a safe and peaceful country, and a future. Her husband, without wasting time, began looking for a job to provide for the family and give them a decent start in their new life.

But the reality after arrival struck with trials. The promised housing disappeared – people simply changed their plans without notice, and their support dissolved.

The family was forced to settle in a shelter for Ukrainians and adjusted their plans, still believing in their strength to build a family life in Canada. Soon after, their baby was born.

Then, an unexpected and extremely painful shock. It was frightening to learn that the person Olga trusted – her husband – turned out to be addicted to drugs. He was sinking deeper and deeper into his addiction, spending their last money not on the child, not on their family, but on his own oblivion and escape from reality. Every promise to stop, and every time he broke it, eventually completely broke Olga down. His condition was a blow to her faith and hope. He did not become the support the family needed.

So Olga became that support for the child and for herself. She did not break and made the only right and possible decision for the safety of the child and herself – she left her husband and moved into a hotel, fortunately provided by the Red Cross. It was her little fortress, her temporary peace.

After a difficult childbirth, Olga’s health significantly deteriorated she was struggling not only emotionally, but also physically, without support. The baby’s frequent illnesses and the complete lack of any financial help from the father only added to the burden; the woman could only rely on government support and volunteers. For two years, she carried hope inside - quiet, stubborn, motherly, that one day the darkness would lift, and life would become easier.

Eventually, the Red Cross support program for Ukrainians ended. Olga was informed of the need to leave the hotel. Uncertainty and an unpredictable future weighed heavily on her shoulders. Again. But she could not surrender to circumstances. Because she had a son.

One step away from the street, she reached out to all the charitable organizations and churches she knew. She called. Knocked. Searched. But in return, silence, polite refusals, and shameful offers of accommodation in a basement with no possibility to go outside.

And then, when the suitcase was already standing at the hotel door, the mother and her son were facing a life on the street. It seemed no one would help.

Late evening. Uncertainty. Silence. And suddenly, a ringtone broke the silence. An unknown number was calling insistently. Answering the call, she heard the saving words -“We are on our way. Please wait. You will have shelter.”

It was Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis.

No formalities. No conditions. No questions. Only action.

“She was an exhausted and drained woman. Only God knows how she held on. The little boy clung tightly to his mother and stared at our faces with fear, as if searching for confirmation that now everything would be alright,” said Iryna, Intake Coordinator at Grassroots.

Today, the boy is just over two years old. He plays carefree with his toys in the yard of the Guest House, where they were sheltered. He smiles, mumbles something, and tells little stories. Because his mother stood strong and endured the hell of uncertainty, doubts, and despair, so that her child could be safe. Because the volunteers at Grassroots did not walk by.

Olga says that the help from Grassroots is about human dignity. It is proof that real support lies not in loud words, but in actions.

It is a dedication to volunteer service and human values that deserves the highest recognition.

The woman and her little one are preparing to return, unfortunately, to a Ukraine still suffering from war. She is going back not because it’s easier there, but because in her homeland, she has support - her family and close friends who are ready to help her get back on her feet.

Olga is exhausted by the struggle to survive. She mourns the loss of her marriage, tries to rethink her past steps, and regrets not seeing the full beauty of Canada. But she sincerely hopes that life will improve and is already making plans for the future with renewed faith in people.