The parents at the centre of a horror crash that claimed the lives of their three children two years ago have welcomed a new baby, wiping away tears of joy when their daughter entered the world.
Emotional parents Danny Leila Abdallah welcomed their daughter Selina, who was born on Friday at 7.45am weighing 3.31 kilos.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph this week, they told the publication they had asked their three surviving children what they would like to name her.
“She’s beautiful, so tiny, can we please call her Selina, it’s a mix of Sienna and Angelina? I love her so much,” eldest daughter Liana said.
The Abdallah family say little Selina will carry on the legacy of their daughters Sienna, 8, and Angelina, 12, and son Antony, 13, who died in the crash tragedy at Oatlands in Western Sydney in February 2020.
“Thank God the birth went well, she’s healthy, she’s our seventh baby, God has answered our prayers,” said a very tired Leila from her hospital bed at Sydney’s Westmead Private.
“It felt so surreal when I saw her for the first time, she’s so beautiful, I felt so happy I cried tears of joy.
“We’ve bought a new life into the world, I can’t believe how blessed we are after everything we’ve lost.
“She will carry on Sienna, Angelina and Antony’s memories.
“She’s taught us life hits us with bad things but not to give up — we feel really blessed.
“She’s our seventh child, a little girl, I’ve been waiting for her a long time and she’s finally arrived … she came early.”
A clearly emotional Danny added, “We are absolutely over the moon – you see, resilience and forgiveness what it gives you? We’ve got a beautiful new life and cannot thank God enough.”
Leila received her first contraction at 2am on Friday and began frantically cleaning the house, hoovering and putting the washing machine on. Little Selina was born at precisely 7.45am measuring 51cms.
“I didn’t worry that Leila started going into contractions, we’ve been through a lot of grief in life … we both took it calmly,” said Danny.
“Leila was hoovering and looked up at me and said ‘I think she’s finally coming,’
“We’ve both waited for this moment for a long time and we cannot believe she is here.
“I’m pleased for the other children who have a new sister who will be their emblem of hope for the future.
“The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The Abdallahs’ lives were ripped apart when drunk and drugged ute driver Samuel Davidson ploughed into their three children and their niece Veronique Sakr as they walked to get ice-cream in Sydney’s west, alongside Oatlands golf course.
The Abdallah's are hopeful their newborn will give new purpose to their surviving children Liana, 12, Alex, 7, and Michael, 5, and mark a joyous new chapter for the family.
“She’s Liana’s baby, she is so excited about having a little sister again, this is going to be her little baby and she’s going to help raise her,” said Leila.
The family launched a week-long ‘I4give’ campaign in honour of their three children and niece who died in the tragedy, and, as Maronite Christians, made headlines when they openly the declared they forgave Davidson.
They are negotiating with Parramatta Council over a memorial site to be built on Bettington Road in honour of the lost children.
Danny and Leila met Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis on February 6 and had positive talks about honouring the children with a small garden.
It comes after the golf club turned down a memorial on part of its course amid a building proposal by Mirvac, triggering community outrage last year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison pleaded with the board to consider the grieving families and allow the memorial to be built.
“Sometimes you just have to cut your losses and move on, we’ve got a beautiful life we need to look after, and she and our three others are our new future,” said Danny.
