President's best wishes as Leah's operation starts
Leah Xuereb is having the operation in Texas.
Updated 4.40 p.m.
President George Abela today expressed his best wishes to three-year-old Leah Xuereb who is undergoing surgery to save her life at a specialised hospital in Texas, the only hope she has left after being struck down by a very rare form of stomach cancer.
President Abela expressed his wishes when he launched an auction of art works to raise funds for l-Istrina.
The operation started early this afternoon.
The toddler’s family has been through an excruciating 16 months of diagnosis and treatment, strung with moments of sadness and others of optimism. Now that the big day is here, her mother said she was deeply anxious but also thankful that Leah had made it to the only place in the world that can provide the treatment she needs.
“No matter how prepared you are, when the moment comes, it’s very difficult,” she said from the US yesterday.
“We’re very lucky to be here, that Leah is being given another chance and it’s all being done for her good, but it’s my baby...” her mother’s voice trailed off.
A very emotional Zhana Xuereb added that no one could guarantee the operation would be successful but it had worked on others, “so we hope and we pray.”
Leah’s complex operation at the Anderson Cancer Centre is expected to take some 10 hours.
Prayers were said for the young Gozitan at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary.
“I just wish I could close my eyes and open them tomorrow. I should be stronger but I keep thinking about what might happen before and after the operation,” Ms Xuereb said.
“It’s really good to be here, it’s just that I don’t know what to do – I want to comfort her but at the same time I don’t want her to know how big this thing is.”
Little Leah’s family left London for Texas on November 3 and tests have been carried out on her every day since in preparation for the operation.
On Saturday, the girl was taken to the animal zoo not far from the hospital. She could be heard giggling in the background as her mother spoke to The Times on the phone yesterday evening.
Leah had been receiving treatment for cancer at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. She was diagnosed with a yolk-sac tumour, a form of stomach cancer that can only be treated at Anderson Cancer Centre. No other hospital can provide the combination of localised chemotherapy and surgery that she needs.
The story of Leah has touched the hearts of thousands. She was healthy until she turned two and despite the high doses of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, her disease progressed very fast.
But her Gozitan parents refused to give up and after applying for sponsorship from the Maltese Government, they decided to take matters into their own hands and start collecting funds for the expensive treatment.
The day her story was published in The Times, the Government came through with its reply to the application: it had decided to sponsor the €245,000 treatment.
Her aunt Josefa Xuereb said the Għajnsielem community, including Kindergarten students of the same age as Leah, will be gathering at the sanctuary for Mass at 9am.
“It’s been a very difficult time, especially for Leah’s grand-parents. Separation is cruel. When you have a problem, you can usually solve it, but illness does not vanish with the snap of your fingers,” she said.
Since she visited little Leah at Great Ormond she started appreciating life more, she said.
“After all I saw there, I wake up in the morning and everyday thank God that I’m still alive.”
Popular Stories
Update 3: Marsa murder - Police looking...
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Updated - Two bodies, capsized boat,...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
In Discussion
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
Chinese company to study Malta-Gozo...
Updated - PM reacts to Labour anger on...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
No appeals board for first part of power...
Updated - PM comments as Franco Mercieca...
BBC site highlights illegal hunting in Malta
49 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Mr Joseph Bartolo
Nov 13th 2012, 06:38
May Archangel Raphael and a team of healing Angels heal our precious little sister Leah and be abundantly blessed with abundant health, happiness and joy <3
Joe aquilina
Nov 13th 2012, 06:17
good luck LEAH MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ANGEL
stephen portelli
Nov 13th 2012, 05:12
Good luck little angel.
Alfred Grech
Nov 12th 2012, 23:27
It's 11:30 pm Malta time - waiting anxiously for some new about sweet Leah and hope we'll receive some good and encouraing news about her. Malta loves you, Leah.
vincent Muscat
Nov 12th 2012, 21:23
Good luck.
P Mangion
Nov 12th 2012, 21:04
While praying for all those involved to have faith in God's mercy. Let God's will be done.
Mr leo attard
Nov 12th 2012, 20:21
MAY things turn out well.
Victor Pulis
Nov 12th 2012, 18:46
While understanding the anxiety the parents may be feeling they shouild console themselves in knowing that they did everything possible for little Leah. Now it's all in the hands of the surgeons who I'm sure will also do everything that's possible from their end. Hoping for a good outcome.
M. Mifsud
Nov 12th 2012, 18:42
May God look over you.
Joe Shields
Nov 12th 2012, 18:14
Good luck little angel.
martin chetcuti
Nov 12th 2012, 18:09
Malta warajkom......
Gunner Darmanin
Nov 12th 2012, 17:50
May God bless you and watch over you during this time. St. Jude please watch over this little angel and come to her assistance. Good Luck we will pray for you tonight more than before.
S. Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:40
Praying for you little angel!
R Axisa
Nov 12th 2012, 17:36
May God be with Leah and the team of surgeons involved in this operation. Let's hope for the best.
Caroline Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 17:32
god bless you
Anthony Connolly
Nov 12th 2012, 16:32
I will, as I'm sure many many more people will, remember little Leah in my prayers tonight. Best wishes little one
R. Azzopardi
Nov 12th 2012, 15:49
Any updates would be greatly appreciated. Good luck little one xxx
John Meli
Nov 12th 2012, 15:00
Today we all pray to God to grant little Leah would make this operation a success through this little prayer from all of us and we all await the good news that she will be back home in no time to praise you God for blessing her and keep your hands on her through out this operation and in the future of her life which we are sure you as our God does Bless her. We are all rebuking these cancel cells.
James Tyrrell
Nov 12th 2012, 14:45
Good luck Leah. Hope all turns out well for you.
John Meli
Nov 12th 2012, 14:37
Today we all pray to God to grant little Leah would make this operation a success through this little prayer from all of us and we all await the good news that she will be back home in no time to praise you God for blessing her and keep your hands on her through out this operation and in the future of her life which we are sure you as our God does Bless her. We are all rebuking these cancel cells.
Ms D. Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 14:32
Good luck dear Leah. May God and your Guardian Angel watch over you.
Matthew Vella
Nov 12th 2012, 14:07
"The day her story was published in The Times, the Government came through with its reply to the application"
Lol, very subtle.
Giov DeMartino
Nov 12th 2012, 15:29
Anki haw, angli tal-hniena, se ti[pprova tiehu xi punt! Kif ma tisthix.
laurent caruana
Nov 12th 2012, 17:42
Lord, have pity on this poor soul!
Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Nov 12th 2012, 20:18
Ftit rispett lejn dan l-Anġlu, u l-familjari!
F’dan il-mument huwa xieraq biss li fis-skiet ta' qalbna ngħidu talba lill Alla biex irrod il-fejqan fuq din l-Anġlu, u jgħati l-kuraġġ lill ġenituri!
Awguri LEAĦ, il-Bambin miegħek!!
Joe Busuttil
Nov 12th 2012, 13:37
Come on ,all you usual comment writers,who comment on banal things that politicians say (myself the first one). Why so few comments wishing the little angel a speedy and complete recovery,and offering words of encouragement to the parents and the rest of her relatives. Take heart Mr and Mrs Xuereb,I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Modern medicine performs wonders.
Anna Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 12:44
All we can do is pray!!!!!!!
Desiree Curmi
Nov 12th 2012, 12:30
Will keep you in my prayers little angel. Best of luck and Get well soon. xx Keep strong dear parents. Hopefully this ordeal will soon be over
James J. Patton
Nov 12th 2012, 12:03
After reading this heart wrenching story about liitle Leah today I have no doubt that the people from all of Ireland would offer a prayer for her as she endures this life-saving attempt to bring her back to good health.
May God bless her and her parents, and give them the strength they need to overcome this final hurdle. Our Lady of Ta' Pinu pray for them in their hour of need.
Charles Micallef
Nov 12th 2012, 11:54
Our thoughts and prayers are with Leah and her family, and hope to see her back in Malta with that beaming smile on her face once more!
D Portelli
Nov 12th 2012, 11:53
May God be with you sweet Leah and all the persons that are in the same situation. Hope everything goes well.
david debattista
Nov 12th 2012, 11:37
Wishing you the very best of Luck . We are all thinking about you little one !
Mark J. Magri
Nov 12th 2012, 11:34
I have a feeling that this lovely child is going to be totally healed in a short time and she would enjoy her nice future coming ahead for her.
I promise to pray for her in my daily prayers sothat the operation would be successful.
Good luck for this little child!
GRANPINTO
Vincent Galea
Nov 12th 2012, 11:25
Dear Leah,
Look up into the sky.You see the stars. We are under the Almighty's protection. We are surrounded.
What's going on ? The Almighty is giving us a hug.
Listen to the Almighty whispering in your ears. Listen Leah, listen
The Almighty ; I am not watching you. I am with you. Come my dear Leah , come . Let me give you a hug.
Paul Azzopardi
Nov 12th 2012, 10:35
We will be praying for you little Leah. Our prayers are with you..I'm not much of a catholic but if there is a god i hope for one for you, I will say a prayer for you.....I really wish that if there is any spiritual force may it be any Allah, God, Jahova or Buddha or any positive universal force may he shine on you and I hope we get to see your smile again.
E Schembri
Nov 12th 2012, 10:29
Will keep you in my prayers, Leah
A pace
Nov 12th 2012, 09:58
With a promise of prayer
Joe Xuereb
Nov 12th 2012, 09:58
Hello, you Little Xuereb, you! I am thinking of you.
Joe Xuereb
Nov 12th 2012, 09:55
@Josefa Xuereb. Thanks for your heartening words. My life was saved three years ago when a cerebral tumour I'd had since childhood had grown so big it had to be excised just round the corner from Great Ormond Street Hospital. And I've had prostate cancer surgery more recently. I am doing just fine. A van parked near my house has a logo on the side: 'Solutionism is the new optimism'. Fact!
fred sammut
Nov 12th 2012, 09:51
awguri pupa!! perswass li mdawra minn hafna mhabba u talb.
Maria Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 09:48
May God give you all the help you need at such a difficult time. I pray for you.
MT Caruana
Nov 12th 2012, 09:44
Good luck dear Leah, you are in our prayers.
Michael Bonello
Nov 12th 2012, 09:39
I pray to God that little Leah will make trough and with a little prayer from all of us she will be back home in no time untill then may the good lord bless her and keep his hands on her trough the operation God Bless from my heart
A. Schembri
Nov 12th 2012, 09:30
WIsh you well Leah, and courage to the dear parents. May our lady of Ta Pinu pray for all of you and the medicval team to perform successful surgery
m busuttil
Nov 12th 2012, 09:25
good luck my dear may the Blessed Madonna of Pompeii make her biggest miracle on you today we are praying that all goes well God Bless
joseph green
Nov 12th 2012, 09:25
Kuragg pupa il Mulej mieghek , nahsbu u nitolbu ghalik Leah .
Lawrence Buontempo
Nov 12th 2012, 09:16
May you find all the strength in the world.
We pray with you.
jane deguara
Nov 12th 2012, 09:16
our prayes are with you Leah xxx
Joanna Bugeja
Nov 12th 2012, 09:14
I will pray for you dear Leah and especially for your dear parents and to guide the blessed and skillfull hands of those doctors and nurses. How blessed I am to have two healthy kids. May God protect them.
Please choose the reason of your report below: