Leah fights bad fever
Leah still in intensive care at Texas hospital
Leah with her mother on holiday in Paris.
Two weeks after undergoing major cancer surgery in the US, the three-year-old Maltese girl who has captured the sympathy of the entire nation is still in intensive care, fighting fever and an infection.
“We’re living day by day, hoping tomorrow she’ll be better than today,” Leah’s father Jonathan Xuereb told The Times yesterday.
“When I leave her bedside at 11pm, I rush back at 5am the following day, hoping she’ll take a turn for the better.”
Leah’s doctors are confident that the 12-hour operation to remove a very rare form of stomach cancer was successful and the entire tumour was removed.
But last week her body temperature started fluctuating and on Wednesday the little girl was in “unbearable pain”.
Despite increasing her painkiller dosage, the pain did not subside.
But to the amazement of her parents and doctors, Leah took about 20 steps on Thursday morning.
In the evening, however, the doctors had to remove some bacteria from her abdomen, the father said.
Since then, she has been sleeping throughout the day.
On Friday the fever dropped, but it shot up again the following day. Yesterday, her parents were informed she was suffering from another type of infection. Throughout the ordeal, little Leah has been opening her eyes to acknowledge her parents’ presence and nodding to let them know she was hearing them.
“We were aware these things could happen. But the girl is strong, God help her,” her father said proudly, adding that once the doctors were sure she could eat without any help and was recovering well, they would go to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for follow-up tests.
“God willing we would spend Christmas with our whole family in Malta, including Leah’s brother, Owen. I have not seen my son for two months and that breaks my heart,” Mr Xuereb said.
Leah will soon turn four, and has spent half her life at hospital away from home.
She underwent the €245,000 operation sponsored by the Maltese Government at the Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas after 16 months of diagnosis and treatment at Great Ormond.
Yesterday her parents Jonathan and Zhana expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from the Maltese people throughout the ordeal.
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H. J. Grech
Nov 26th 2012, 20:05
Please pray that she starts eating food blended in a liquidiser a.s.a.p. and that her bowels start functioning normally. That would give her a boost for recovery. I know this from personal experience from a similar cancer intestine related surgery. May the Lord be with you Leah ... and may he bless all your family members.
P Sciberras
Nov 26th 2012, 18:52
Dear Leah you are always in our Prayers. God bless you and your Parents.
Ivan Falzon
Nov 26th 2012, 18:16
The Good Lord is watching over you hanini
Irena Shuke
Nov 26th 2012, 21:49
Absolutely... Prayers being sent your way Leah, hang in there!!
Michael Bonello
Nov 26th 2012, 17:27
May the good lord keep his hands upon her Leah is a brave and strong girl and with all our prayers she will make it trough and will be back with all her family in Gozo God is great
J. Camilleri
Nov 26th 2012, 16:42
Why this suffering and pain on young ones? Please God do a miracle on this innocent young girl.
Joseph Meli
Nov 26th 2012, 16:31
May the precious blood of Jesus Christ be on you and cure you, so that with the blood that he shed for us and with the strikes that he received we are healed. God we give glory to you and have great hopes that you are not going to forsake this sweet little child.
S.M. Cuschieri
Nov 26th 2012, 16:24
Sweet sweet child....hang in there. Please. XXX XXX XXX.
Alton Costa
Nov 26th 2012, 16:23
May the Lord of Lords who heals right were no human doctor can heal be with you and your loved ones little Leah !! - I want to also pray for her brother may He feel surrounded by God's unfailing love as he understands the situation which his parents and sister are going through. I am sure the best is yet to come for this wonderful family !!
Alfred Grech
Nov 26th 2012, 16:04
Hi Pupa Ghawdxija, we hope and pray that your problems will soon be over and want to see you here to celebrate Christmas with us in Malta or Gozo. God be with you and your family.
P Caruana
Nov 26th 2012, 15:53
Keep strong Princess. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Nov 26th 2012, 15:22
Lets all Pray... my love and feeling are with you all
Ninu
Dorothy Fenech
Nov 26th 2012, 14:46
It breaks one's heart to read this story! Poor little girl! My heart goes out to her family! May the Good Lord protect her and may she find her way to good health.
Charles Vassallo
Nov 26th 2012, 14:22
Hang on there you sweet little angel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you little one. Godspeed Dear Leah.
Vince Piscopo
Nov 26th 2012, 13:32
God bless you and your parents Leah. I'm sure baby Jesus will help you to fully recover and enjoy Christmas.
We ll keep you in our prayers.
D Zahra
Nov 26th 2012, 13:31
Hang in there princess!.. Your strength is an inspiration to many of us. May your suffering be over soon dear!
Adrian Stivala
Nov 26th 2012, 13:31
just hope she gets well enough to come to malta, we r all praying for u little angel, and your family too. u r such a brave little girl, an inspiration to all. xxx
Joe Busuttil
Nov 26th 2012, 13:13
She is a really plucky girl,that's why she will be getting better and be home for Christmas. May the pain disappear and hope that you will be eating whatever you like best soon.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 26th 2012, 12:54
Leah's return to Malta in good health in time for Christmas would be the best gift the Maltese people can aspire to during yuletide ! Please God, look after her and her parents and family !
Mario Camilleri
Nov 26th 2012, 12:47
kuragg LEAH ghawdex kollu jitlob ghalik u ghal familja tieghek!!
Mario Scicluna
Nov 26th 2012, 12:43
Cmon Leah, you will make it through! May you be strong little girl, when you return here in Malta safe and well, I will meet you up with my baby daughter, same age!
Brian Gatt
Nov 26th 2012, 12:26
Hold on tight baby girl dont let go, you have a whole beautiful life in fronot of you, you are in my prayers...
C Muscat
Nov 26th 2012, 12:20
God bless you and your family, Leah. Wishing you all the best.
R. Azzopardi
Nov 26th 2012, 12:17
Poor thing jahasra. We can't even imagine what she's going through.
Allin Chessum
Nov 26th 2012, 12:01
Hold on Leah,, all the UK i am sure Pray for You, Best wishes to you and your Parents x
Michael Camileri
Nov 26th 2012, 11:28
Get well soon Leah!
f fiott
Nov 26th 2012, 11:04
may god listen to our prayers
Ivan Grech Mintoff
Nov 26th 2012, 10:48
You (and your family) are in our prayers, Leah! :)
Judith Desira
Nov 26th 2012, 10:18
the hardest sentence that i read in this article was that lovely Leah was in pain, i pray the pain subsides and the infection leaves her poor little body , and she regains her strength and makes a full recovery, we are all praying for you Leah, stay strong Angel xx
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