Belgian charity Beyond the Moon has so far sent nine seriously ill Maltese children and their families on a fully paid holiday – far away from hospitals and treatments – thanks to the unstinting efforts of Marisa Xuereb at the Corinthia Palace Hotel. She tells Simonne Pace each and every sick child occupies a special place in her heart.
Four months into her pregnancy, Dorelle Micallef, mother of Javier, 9, was told there would be complications with the development of her baby. Her son was born with a rare medical condition known as rhombndencepalosylapsis – which is a malformation of the hindbrain.
Both Dorelle, a full-time mother who dedicates her life wholeheartedly to her son, and her husband Dennis, a maintenance man, were shocked but willing to accept the child with love and open arms.
Javier, who does not follow mainstream education but attends San Miguel Special School in Pembroke until he turns 12, has one-to-one help of a learning support assistant. Although he can walk, at home he needs constant help and supervision.
Having undergone medical interventions and treatment and still needing regular therapies for behaviour to be able to work on becoming as independent as possible, Javier and his family take it one day at a time and do their best to cope.
They receive a lot of support from the Puttinu Cares Foundation and the Malta Community Chest Fund, especially when it comes to medical treatment abroad. Aġenzija Sapport also sends the family a helper, once a week for 12 hours, to look after Javier – who is an only child – while his mother runs errands. Javier’s parents pay privately for their son’s regular appointments, which include physio, occupational and speech therapy.
Immediately after his return from the UK this summer, where he will be receiving medical treatment, Javier and his parents have a holiday to a family adventure park in Europe to look forward to, entirely paid for by Belgian charity Beyond the Moon.
The charity offers families with seriously ill children a memorable, free holiday away from hospitals and daily treatments. Through the collection of funds, raised through personal donations by Corinthia Hotels guests and fundraising events organised by the hotel’s team, the charity has to date been able to send nine children and their families on holiday. Javier and his family are the 10th recipients of this initiative.
Families with seriously sick children feel confused and helpless. They find themselves hoping for better times
Driving force Marisa Xuereb, who coordinates the Corinthia Palace’s efforts for Beyond the Moon, said these holidays helped brighten up the dark and painful days of these children and their families, giving them a chance to spend some quality time together, away from a hospital setting.
Each holiday costs around €4,000 to sponsor. Since 2006, the Corinthia Palace Hotel, with the help of its loyal sponsors, has raised over €64,000 in aid of Beyond the Moon.
“When we speak to the families going on holiday, they are thrilled. They send us a postcard, together with photos of their holiday – which we stick on a noticeboard at the hotel. Beyond the Moon also sends us thank you certificates for each family,” said Marisa, herself mother of a 20-year-old son, born with a brain injury.
“I personally know that families with seriously sick children feel confused and helpless. They find themselves hoping for better times, which seem unattainable. A holiday would be the last thing on their mind, a luxury they surely cannot afford, let alone consider.
“After the holiday, the families get in touch with us to recount their experience and memories. You get so much out of seeing the smiles on their relaxed faces. One child was taken to hospital a few days after the holiday and passed away within a week. However, his parents were full of thanks for being able to cherish forever lasting memories of their son having a great time. The very first girl to go on holiday with the charity passed away earlier this year. Even though the holiday happened 10 years ago, we still got very emotional looking at her postcard kept in our Beyond the Moon scrapbook,” she said.
Extremely energetic and having experienced the good work of the charity first hand, Marisa feels excited for Javier. “This will be a time for him and his parents to relax together away from a painstaking routine. Soon, he will be off to London to undergo a programme that will help him with his daily living skills, sensory integration, listening and speech. After that, I wish him Bon Voyage.”