Jacob celebrates on the final step. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Christmas came early for a teen­ager with a rare brain infection, when he yesterday managed what for him was the Herculean task of climbing all 77 steps at the entrance to Valletta.

The achievement marked another milestone in Jacob Cachia’s long journey of survival and paid tribute to all other survivors of serious illnesses.

It was also his Christmas wish last year.

Peanut the family dog was at the forefront as the 17-year-old was egged on by relatives, friends and other survivors, who were not only urging him to overcome the obstacle of his physical disability but also his fear of heights.

Jacob stopped just three times to catch his breath. Every time he paused, he smiled before starting off again and he even hurried up the last 10 steps.

“This is an achievement for me because, not only did I climb more steps than planned, but I have also overcome my fear.

“I have wanted to do this since last Christmas,” he said as soon as he reached the top.

The teenager had contracted a brain infection in January last year and left hospital in June following three operations that included removing part of his skull, which could not be put back in place due to swelling.

Then, last March, he had another operation to replace the missing part of his skull with a titanium plate – earning him the proud nickname Titanium Man.

His survival story and the example he set in battling and overcoming numerous health challenges was recognised by President Emeritus George Abela in May.

I climbed more than I planned and overcame my fear

Following that ordeal, Jacob told his mother that, if he had one wish, it would be to cure all illnesses, but since this was not immediately possible, the Cachia family worked on the next best thing.

They set up the Survivors Malta support group to help those facing life-threatening illnesses.

Last month, Jacob walked from Santa Venera to Valletta during the President’s Fun Run. As if that was not enough of an achievement, he decided to complete his wish list for this year by climbing 66 steps on one side of City Gate.

He even “practised” the climb by trying out five steps over the past few weeks, he said, laughing.

But because of a separate photo shoot taking place on that section of the steps, which coincided with Jacob’s planned climb, the teenager found himself facing an even more arduous task: climbing the additional 11 steps on the other side of the capital’s entrance.

“The stairs remind him of the scene from the Rocky movie where Balboa runs up the stairs and punches the air in victory as he reaches the top,” his mother Sarah said. “To Jacob each and every step symbolises a challenge and each one he climbs is an achievement. To reach the top signifies triumph.

“Besides his physical disability, hemiplegia (weakness of an entire side of the body), Jacob unfortunately has a hidden disability. He has an extreme fear of heights which he has been trying to overcome in the past year.”

Standing tall next to her son, who turned 17 this week, she said the climb was in honour of all survivors as a reminder that every step taken forward brought them closer to the top.