Leah Xuereb, the bubbly six-year-old girl who stole the heart of the Maltese nation as she fought cancer, succumbed to the disease at 6.30am at her home in Ghajnsielem.

Leah XuerebLeah Xuereb

Puttinu Cares said her death was peaceful and expected.

Leah’s mother, Zhana, thanked everyone for all the help and support given to them over these years.

She explained that over the past two weeks, as Leah became weaker, she and her husband surrounded her with things she loved.

Only last January, Leah shared with readers her excitement of being with children her age at school and her mother said she had fallen in love with maths.

In 2012, Leah’s parents had made a plea through this news­paper to fund her life-saving treatment for a rare form of cancer. Following the €245,000 treatment funded by the government in a specialised US hospital, the girl returned to Malta for Christmas.

But bad news was in store for the girl when she had to return to Mater Dei Hospital for chemotherapy in January 2013. Throughout the year, Leah even developed thrombosis but she soldiered on and started gaining some normality.

Last year, Leah stopped her thrombosis medication and her vision improved. She eventually started ballet and Year 1 classes at the Għajnsielem Primary School.

She went to Lourdes in May and to Disneyland in November just before her sixth birthday on a trip funded by the Corinthia hotel.

The funeral will be held on Monday at the Għajnsielem church at 5pm and those who attend are requested to wear white.

Anyone who wants to make a donation is asked to support Puttinu Cares.

 

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