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Tuesday, October 23, 2012 by

Kristina Chetcuti

Baby’s life is on the line

Leah has a rare type of stomach cancer.

Leah has a rare type of stomach cancer.

The life of Leah Xuereb, a three-year old girl suffering from a very rare stomach cancer, is hanging in balance while her parents try to collect €245,000 for the only treatment in the world that can save her life.

The girl has had to endure treatments most adults would be unable to witness, let alone endure. She received 11 courses of chemotherapy

“We are desperate. If we do not manage to raise the money, Leah will die,” said her mother Zhana Xuereb.

Leah’s cancer is tripling every week and if she is not flown out to a specialised US hospital quickly – as recommended by London’s Great Ormond Street hospital – she will not be eligible for treatment.

Leah is only three years old but she has spent half her life at hospital, in Malta and recentlyin London.

She does not know any better, said her mother, as she explained even when she is well enough to play games, her daughter pretends that she is packing luggage and tells her: “Mummy, I’m going to hospital”.

“It breaks my heart,” said Ms Xuereb, who has been at Leah’s bedside since their ordeal started. Her husband, Jonathan, who runs a restaurant in Mġarr, Gozo, has now joined his wife and daughter in the UK for the last leg of treatment.

The girl has had to endure treatments most adults would be unable to witness, let alone endure. At Great Ormond, Leah received 11 courses of chemotherapy.

“They can’t do more than that and there is a little [cancer] mark on the wall of her tummy and behind the bladder,” Ms Xuereb said as she explained that specialists at Great Ormond narrowed down treatment options to Dr Jordan at the Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas, US.

The life-saving HIPEC treatment costs £200,000 (€245,000), but Leah needs to do it urgently before her cancer starts spreading even further and she is too ill to take in the treatment. Last week, the family applied for Government sponsorship of the treatment and they have since been waiting anxiously for the outcome.

In the meantime, through KidsnCancer.org.uk, they kick-started a campaign set out to achieve “the impossible” £200,000 in a week, just in case the government application is refused.

“If the Maltese Government funds this, we will use all the money collected for another child in need,” said Ms Xuereb.

About £9,000 had been raised at the time of going to print. “We will not stop until Leah can receive the treatment that will save her,” said family friend Jo Kesbey.

At the end of the conversation Ms Xuereb broke down and said: “There’s been lots of crying and crying these past 14 months, but I just try to keep myself strong,” she said.

“I just wish a world of health for my daughter.”

As Leah smiled at her, her mother said simply: “I don’t want to lose this moment. I want there to be more moments like this.”

Donations to Leah’s fund can be made on www.justgiving.com/helpsaveleah

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Maria Meilak

Oct 23rd 2012, 19:01

Agree with you matthew!!!

Colin Stanley

Oct 23rd 2012, 20:58

me too

Twanny Scerri

Oct 23rd 2012, 17:33

Great initiative! I am reassured when I hear that the youths of today are responsible and caring. We nearly always hear about the negative things about them so a very big well done SDM.

Lorraine Farrugia

Oct 23rd 2012, 17:13

Sir,am trying to make a donation but as i av an Aps premier card this isnot given as an option. What can i do to make a donation?

Kevin Mifsud

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:57

over 43,000...so far..:) 3.oopm local time(malta)

Kevin Marks

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:54

Totally agree but no at the end of the week TONIGHT!! All the stations should do it independently competing with each other who collects the larger amount of Euros!! Go for it .......

Alex Buds

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:33

Donating couldn't be easier - just go the website mentioned in the article and follow the instructions.

C. Dimech

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:04

There has to be a fly in the ointment hux... You are evidently lucky enough to have never needed treatment abroad i. the government helps A LOT, and i can say this from experience, however EVERYONE's life is precious and the 'government' to quote you, receives hundreds of requests and the funds ARE limited. Stop blaming the government for everything and grow up!!

T. Refalo

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:36

I agree !!

C. Dimech

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:06

Kevin, seriously?! and who says that they haven't? Donating is a personal issue...what are you involving politics and politicians for? Just spread the word and donate.

Kevin Mifsud

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:18

Proset kevin....but we came to a point where,if you speak the thruth,you get told off....look what c dimech replied to my first message...that is one example....

C. Dimech

Oct 23rd 2012, 16:59

Kevin Mifsud grow up!!

Alex Buds

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:34

You don't need any PayPal account - just go the website mentioned in the article and follow the instructions. It couldn't be simpler...

jo kesbey

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:25

You can still donate, In the UK taxpayers can nominate their details so that the Uk government will add tax to their donation, thus boosting funds. However, your donation will still be added to the fund in full, just without Uk government Gift Aid. Thank you very much for your support Warren.

jo kesbey

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:28

We have been in contact with Malta's great charity Puttinu Cares and they have provided much support to the family over the past 14 months. However, their funds are wisely invested to benefit current and future patients and are unable to donate specifically at this moment.

D Zahra

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:33

I just asked your same question on Puttinu facebook page. Can anyone please let us know whether Leah's parents have approached Puttinu?... We maltese donate €millions to Puttinu every year specifically to assist kids like Leah.

S. Calleja

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:06

You can donate online using PayPal. http://www.justgiving.com/helpsaveleah

jo kesbey

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:23

Thank you very much, we have chosen to use the justgiving site so donors can be assured of where their money is going, all funds raised will be managed by the charity directly with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Thank you for your support. Best wishes, Jo

Alexander Brincat

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:11

Good to know. We will be making a donation using Paypal.

Twanny Scerri

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:02

If you do not donate, you are in the wrong as well. So stop blaming and put your money in the right place. You have the link.

C. Dimech

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:46

Have YOU donated Tony? I have....and for all you know all the politicians you choose to waste our time about instead of focusing on the matter at hand have too. so PLEASE STOP being provincial and keep the GOVT. out of it!!!!

Alex Buds

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:37

The government doesn't have any money except what it raises in taxes from you.

So stop blaming the government and donate if you think this is a worthy cause. Society never improved because of people who shirked their responsibility and blamed the government for everything instead.

Paul Giordimaina

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:12

Because if t5he governnment act how many of you say its a propoganda stant so its like a knife with two sharp edges .

jo kesbey

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:30

We only discovered the news last week that this was the only option in Leah's treatment, we will keep everyone updated on Leah's progress through www.helpsaveleah.co.uk
Thank you all for the overwhelming support we have received today

Franco Farrugia

Oct 23rd 2012, 10:11

I am sure that the family have done their homework!

jo kesbey

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:32

The European centres that provide HIPEC treatment do not routinely carry out this treatment on Children, so are unfamiliar with the rarity and complexity of Leah's cancer. I can assure you much research has been undertaken by Leah's consultants at Great Ormond Street.

Rodlean Said

Oct 23rd 2012, 10:29

All donation can be made following this link Derek

http://www.justgiving.com/helpsaveleah


Shawn Grixti

Oct 23rd 2012, 10:37

Yes, www.justgiving.com/helpsaveleah
I just donated from the Netherlands

Derek Grillo

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:17

Yeah, but I'm not a UK taxpayer... (anyway, I guess I did it illegally then... ;-) )

Charles DeMicoli

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:34

I guess you can donate from wherever, with a PayPal account. It works from the US.

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