At 2 a.m., when my daughter wakes up

frightened and screaming, I hold her and wish I could take away whatever is overwhelming her world.

Hi, my name is Ciljeta, and I am Clara’s mom.

For the past three years, this has been our reality.

The day I was told that my daughter had autism was one of the most devastating moments of my life. As a mother, you dream of an easy path for your child. When I received her diagnosis, I felt lost, confused, and heartbroken.

It took me a whole year mentally to truly accept my daughter’s diagnosis, even though I was taking her from one therapy to another. I didn’t want to accept it. I kept thinking there had to be another explanation — another answer.

I went from one specialist to another. From one place to another. From one country to another — searching, hoping, praying that someone would give me answers that would change everything. I wanted someone to tell me how to fix it, how to make it easier for her. But I couldn’t find the solution I was desperately searching for.

For the past three years, this has been our life.

Three years of appointments.
Three years of research.
Three years of sleepless nights.
Three years of fighting for answers.

And through it all, there has been a quiet fear in my heart — the quiet fear that if I don’t fight hard enough, she will fall through cracks that were never meant to hold children like her.

Accepting Clara’s diagnosis was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Since that day, our life has been a journey — a journey of learning, fighting, researching, and never giving up. I never stopped educating myself.

I never stopped searching for ways to help her.

Clara is a beautiful, loving child, but she struggles every single day. She suffers in ways many people don’t see. She wakes up in the middle of the night frightened, screaming, overwhelmed by something we can’t always understand. Watching her like that breaks my heart.

It doesn’t just affect Clara — it affects our whole family. Her two siblings love her deeply, but they don’t fully understand what she is going through. When she wakes up scared at night, they feel it too. It has been hard on all of us. Seeing your child suffer and not being able to take it away is the most painful feeling a mother can experience.

But as parents of children with autism, we never stop fighting.

Recently, through my constant research and speaking with other families, I came across stem cell therapy — a treatment that may help children with autism improve speech, sleep, and daily functioning. While results can vary, many parents have seen progress, and as a mother, I feel I must explore every possible opportunity that could help Clara live a more peaceful and independent life.

Clara will be traveling to Colombia for treatment at BioXcellerator. The total cost for both stem cell therapy sessions is $32,700 US, and this amount includes her medical care and accommodation during treatment. In addition, we must also cover international flights and travel expenses.

Our total fundraising goal is $57,000 CAD, which will cover the full cost of her two treatments and travel expenses. Every dollar raised will go directly toward Clara’s treatment and related costs.

This treatment is not covered, and the financial burden is overwhelming for our family. But I cannot stop now. I will never stop fighting for my daughter.
 
I am asking you, from the bottom of my heart, to please help Clara reach this opportunity. Whether through a donation, sharing our story, or keeping her in your prayers — every bit of support matters.
 
I will always support other parents walking this path. We understand each other’s pain. We understand the sleepless nights, the research, the tears, the strength we didn’t know we had. We don’t stop. We can’t stop. Our children are worth fighting for.

Thank you for taking the time to read Clara’s story.

Thank you for helping us move one step closer to hope.

With love and gratitude, Ciljeta