When Sarah Cachia saw her teenage son, Jacob, fight for his life in a hospital bed a year ago, she craved to be able to speak to someone who went through a similar experience – and survived.

So when, after a six-month battle against a rare brain infection, Jacob finally left hospital, Ms Cachia and her family held on to that feeling and set up the Facebook support page Survivors Malta.

The closed group attracted over 750 people who joined to be able to share their story and gain hope and comfort through others’ experiences.

If only someone who lived through such an ordeal would come to your side and tell you their story

The Cachias’ mission has now become spreading the word to encourage more survivors to find support through the group.

Jacob, who recently turned 16, survived the rare brain infection which he contracted in January and left the hospital in June – after three operations that included removing part of his skull.

Ms Cachia and her family remember the trauma vividly: “Imagine a loved one lying there and all the power to put things right are taken away from you. Doctors enter the room. You are given the worst scenario of what may happen. As the team of doctors turn away to leave, you beg them to tell you there is some hope… but despite your pleas they cannot reassure you. They cannot make promises of a better prognosis.”

Similarly, nurses could not share success cases quoting data protection and psychologists and psychotherapists asked them to prepare themselves for the worse.

“You find yourself wishing and praying that, if only someone who lived through such an ordeal would come to your side and tell you their story of surviving… To others it will seem like giving false hope, but to you it will give you the motivation you need to carry on,” she said.

As Jacob gained strength, the family started building a place where people could share their survival stories.

“Our philosophy is: who better to understand you than those that have been there themselves… Imagine going into a room full of survivors together with their families, also survivors. What would you feel – inspiration, admiration, strength? We created that room on Facebook,” she said, stressing that Survivors Malta did not give medical advice or collect funds.

“Survivors Malta members are here for each other so that we won’t feel alone in our struggles and to give moral support by just simply telling our stories and sharing our experiences. That doesn’t cost a penny. No money can buy that type of support,” she said.

Survivors Malta helped…

Alex Buttigieg and wife Josephine

• In March 2012 he suffered two consecutive burst lungs and, less than six months later, his wife was diagnosed with cancer in her spine, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. She now regained most of the feelings in her lower body and is starting to walk. “Being members of Survivors Malta helped us understand and offer our moral support to others who are facing their own traumas,” they said.

Betty Lee

• A cancer survivor who found great support from the group. “It’s also good for me to be part of a group of people who can encourage and help others see that there is life after something that nearly ends your life,” she said, adding that she made good friends through the group.

Fleur Marie Cilia Buckett

• Witnessed her mother and sister die of cancer and was herself diagnosed with breast cancer. “Through this group I have met people and have made new friends. I was very touched when they all visited me when I underwent a hysterectomy recently,” she said.

Diane Depasquale

• Whose daughter, Shannon, had a shunt placed in her brain at the age of two. On Good Friday 2012, her shunt was blocked and a routine operation went terribly wrong. But she is slowly improving. “It’s good to read other people’s stories as you realise you are not alone. A sense of well-being comes when people read my own story and still see me and my daughter fighting and looking ahead,” she said.

Marcelle Abela

• Who, a year ago, found out her son Gabriel was diagnosed with a very rare condition and could not find the right support during the ordeal. “It’s a heartfelt blessing to be a part of something so special – its origin came from a young boy’s misfortunate life event and from that this beautiful association has been established.”

Antoinette Zammit

• Was anorexic in her teens and this led to several repercussions, including damage to her thyroid. Her sister, who has since passed away, helped her get back on her feet. “Today I form part of this group and I live to help others move on with precious life,” she said.