President Emeritus George Abela surprised Titanium Man Jacob Cachia by presenting him with an award recognising the shining example the teenager set in battling and overcoming his numerous health challenges.
The award was handed to Jacob during the prize day ceremony at the St Margaret College Boys’ Secondary School, Verdala.
The 16-year-old earned his nickname after he underwent an operation in March to replace a missing part of his skull with a titanium plate.
He had contracted a brain infection in January last year and left the hospital in June following three operations that included removing part of his skull, which could not be put back in place due to swelling.
His mother, Sarah, explained that the former president had made such an impact on her son during the L-Istrina campaign that Jacob even made the campaign’s motto – believe, achieve, succeed – his own for the year 2014.
When Dr Abela confirmed his attendance to Ms Cachia, she decided to keep it a secret from Jacob.
“Jacob was elated to see Dr Abela there or, as Jacob affectionately calls him, ‘George’.
“To see my son so content was the greatest gift Dr Abela could have given me. What mother doesn’t want to see her child happy?
“It was also an opportunity for my family and I to honour and show our gratitude to Jacob’s school. They have gone over and beyond their duty to making what was a difficult transaction in Jacob’s life a pleasant one.”
To see my son so content was the greatest gift Dr Abela could have given me
The school also presented a video montage detailing key moments of Jacob’s recovery – from his first steps to his surprise birthday party featuring characters from the game ‘Angry Birds’ to his return to school.
There were few dry eyes among the audience.
“The decision to send Jacob back to school to repeat Form 5 after the trauma we had been through was a difficult one for us to say the least, but Jacob was insistent on going back to school in order to prepare for the O levels that he could not do last year because of his illness.
“Despite our concerns we wanted to see our son happy and fulfil his wish. We took the next step forward and Jacob returned to school in September.”
Jacob, she continues, had to wear a protective head helmet because of his head injury (he had no skull bone on the right side of his head) and he was appointed a learning support assistant to help him as his walking was still a little unstable.
He also did not have full use of his left hand which made even the simplest tasks difficult.
He suffers from fatigue which makes studying a difficult task but his mother encourages him by reminding him that “you fail if you don’t try”.
“As his mother, in my eyes he has already earned a Masters in life!
“I would like to thank all the individuals at Jacob’s school that have made a difference in his life over the past year.
“They have all told us that Jacob has inspired them when, in fact, it was the teachers, the administration and the pupils that have all played a part in inspiring my son and giving him the motivation he needs to continue on his journey through life. And for that, Jacob, my family and I will be eternally grateful.”