‘Bills are piling up’: Ukrainian family in Canada struggles after daughter’s brain tumour diagnosis

Alex Karpa reports on the mounting financial strain a Ukrainian family living in Canada is facing after their daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

10-year-old Kira Hetsii loves art. She loves to draw and paint – it’s one of her favourite pastimes.

But lately, she hasn’t been able to do it as much.

Four months ago, Kira was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Her mom Anhelina says the diagnosis came as a shock to the family.

“It’s been really hard,” she said. “It was definitely unexpected.”

So far, Kira has undergone three surgeries, with the possibility of more in the near future. The family is currently in Ottawa seeking additional treatment.

“It’s been very hard for her,” Anhelina said.

‘Our resources are nearly exhausted’

It’s also been a difficult few years for the Hetsii family.

Like millions of others, they were forced to leave their home country of Ukraine, after Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.

Over 300,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada since the war started, including Anhelina and her family, who arrived in Winnipeg three years ago, with just the clothes on their backs.

Anhelina was forced to leave her full-time job to take care of Kira. Her husband has a job, but sometimes cannot work because he needs to look after their other daughter when Anhelina takes Kira to appointments.

She says it’s been hard to make ends meet over the last few months. They have health insurance in Canada, which covers many essential medical services, but there are expenses that are not covered.

“I only have EI, which is only half of my job payment,” she said. Bills are piling up, which is really hard and now rent is increasing.”

A GoFundMe page was set up in Kira’s name to help out Anhelina and her family during this difficult time.

“Right now, things are especially hard: rent, groceries, and basic family needs are weighing heavily on us,” a post on the online fundraiser reads. “Our resources are nearly exhausted, and credit limits are almost at zero.”

An uncertain future

The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program was created by the federal government to help Ukrainians seek refuge in Canada, allowing them to stay as temporary residents with free, open work and study permits.

The deadline to apply for an extension under that program is March 31, 2026.

With everything happening in their lives, Anhelina and her family face added uncertainty and stress about their future in Canada.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) hopes the federal government will extend the program, as the only path to permanent residency for Ukrainians is currently through the regular immigration process.

“As is obvious, the war is ongoing,” said Orest Zakydalsky, a senior policy advisor with the Ukrainian organization. “Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilian residential areas is increasing.”

Zakydalsky says it’s unlikely Ukrainians, who have settled temporarily in Canada, will be able to return to their homes in the near future.

“There is a need for the government to start thinking about offering people some permanency and some predictability,” he said. “The stress of not knowing about your own status here, and how long you’ll be able to keep working and supporting your family is certainly one that people think about often.”

He added there is a possibility the CUAET program could get extended.

We reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for a comment on this topic but did not hear back.

“Our message to the government is that Ukrainians who are here need some sense of predictability and permanence in order to be able to plan their lives, and many are also supporting their loved ones and family in Ukraine at this time,” Zakydalsky said.

“We are ready to work with the government to come up with a strategy that works to ensure that Ukrainians who are here, have a path to permanency as their lives unfold.”

As for Anhelina and her family, she says they are going to do everything they can to help Kira, as they navigate her health and their future in this country.

She is grateful for everyone who has helped them out over the last few months.

“We are really thankful, because it’s a good support for my family,” she said.