Cancer fighter Leah Xuereb and her mother Zhana are in Lourdes and their baggage includes a good dose of hope.

The two left on the five-day trip funded by the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta yesterday.

“I have been looking forward to this trip for a year. It was impossible to go last year because of the type of treatment that Leah was receiving.

“But now, God willing, we are going with other children at the Rainbow Ward to pray for our health,” Ms Xuereb, 35, told Times of Malta.

The two, together with Ms Xuereb’s mother Vesi, had just been to Mater Dei Hospital for a routine weekly check up.

In the past few months, Leah, five, has been receiving treatment in pill form, which has fewer side effects. This leaves her with more free time to spend with her brother Owen and cousin Nick.

In October 2012, Leah’s parents made a plea through Times of Malta to fund a €245,000 life-saving treatment for a rare form of cancer in a specialised US hospital. Leah and her family returned to Malta for Christmas but last year they were told the girl had to return to Mater Dei for chemotherapy.

However, Leah soldiered on and regained some normality, playing, riding her bicycle, going to the playground and making friends. As she cannot go to school regularly, a teacher goes to her house every week.

Leah is also gaining some sense of independence and is sleeping in her own bed in her parents’ bedroom.

“We look forward to the day where we can decorate her room, but we’re taking it one step at a time.

“At the moment we really appreciate the precious time we spend together, watching TV or playing,” Ms Xuereb said.

Leah is really excited about this “holiday” where she will meet “bambina who will turn me into a mermaid,” she told the newspaper. Her mother believes the little girl’s wish is to be able to swim, something she cannot yet do because of the treatment she is receiving.

“We are going there with great hope. We will pray, pray and pray – for Leah and other kids. Not that you need to be anywhere specific to pray, but Lourdes is a special place and we will be with so many other people, some of whom are going through similar situations. Knowing that people in Malta and Gozo are praying for us is of great support as well.

“I’m looking forward to put Leah in the bath of blessed water.

“This journey has been long and tough, but Leah is happy and full of energy. We have our ups and downs, but whenever I’m low I pick myself up and keep going,” her mother said.