Arina’s Story: A Mom Carrying It All, and the Support That Helped Her Keep Going

When we talk about the families we support at Claire’s Place, we often say we show up during the hardest moments.

This is one of those moments.

Arina is just under three years old and lives in Chicago with her twin sister and their mom, Uulkan. Arina has cystic fibrosis, which means daily treatments, frequent medical appointments, and, at times, extended hospital stays.

Recently, Arina was hospitalized for two weeks.

For most families, that is overwhelming on its own. For Uulkan, it is everything.

She is a single mom raising twin toddlers. She is also Arina’s full time caregiver. That means managing treatments, coordinating care, and being present through every hospital stay, all while trying to keep a roof over their heads.

Because of the level of care Arina needs, working consistently just is not possible right now.

There is no extended family nearby. No built in support system. Just a mom doing everything she can for her daughters.

When rent came due, the pressure became too much.

That is where Claire’s Place stepped in.

Through our Extended Hospital Stay Grant, we were able to cover one month of rent, giving this family immediate stability during a really difficult time.

But what that support really means goes beyond the bill itself.

“As a single mom to twin daughters, with one living with cystic fibrosis, the responsibility can feel overwhelming,” Uulkan shared. “This grant helped lift some of the financial pressure so I could focus on caring for my girls without constantly worrying about how to make ends meet.”

She also shared something we hear often, but never take for granted:

“It reminded me that we are not alone, that there are people who truly care and want to support families like ours.”

This is the impact of Claire’s legacy.

Not abstract. Not someday. Right now.

It is rent paid during a hospital stay.
It is a parent able to focus on their child instead of bills.
It is a moment of relief in the middle of something incredibly heavy.

Families like Arina’s are why Claire started this work in the first place.

And it is why we keep going.

From Arina’s Mother:

“As a single mom to twin daughters, with one living with cystic fibrosis, the responsibility can feel overwhelming. I’m the sole provider, but at the same time, I’m also my daughter’s full-time caregiver—managing treatments, frequent appointments, and hospital visits. Because of that, working consistently just isn’t possible. Without family support here in the U.S., there are moments that feel incredibly isolating. This grant helped lift some of the financial pressure so I could focus on caring for my girls without constantly worrying about how to make ends meet. It gave us stability during a really difficult time and reminded me that we’re not alone—that there are people who truly care and want to support families like ours. I’m so grateful, and I hope sharing our story helps others understand how much of a difference this kind of support makes.”