Today - Last-hope operation for little Leah

Three-year-old Leah Xuereb will today undergo surgery to save her life at a specialised hospital in Texas, the only hope she has left after being struck down by a very rare form of stomach cancer. The toddler’s family has been through an excruciating 16 months of diagnosis and treatment, strung with moments of sadness and others of optimism. Now that the big day is here, her mother is deeply anxious but also thankful that Leah has made it to the only place in the world that can provide the treatment she needs. “No matter how prepared you are, when the moment comes, it’s very difficult,” she said from the US yesterday. “We’re very lucky to be here, that Leah is being given another chance and it’s all being done for her good, but it’s my baby...” her mother’s voice trailed off. A very emotional Zhana Xuereb added that no one could guarantee the operation would be successful but it had worked on others, “so we hope and we pray.” Leah’s complex operation at the Anderson Cancer Centre, which requires a team of 20 medics, could take between five and 10 hours and there are times when it has taken as long as 22 hours on other patients. “I just wish I could close my eyes and open them...