The parents of three children who were tragically killed in a horror car crash have revealed the heartwarming reason behind the name of their new baby girl.
Leila and Danny Abdallah lost their daughters Sienna, 8, and Angelina, 12, and son Anthony, 13, in the tragedy at Oatlands in western Sydney on February 1, 2020.
Their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, was also killed in the devastating crash.
On Friday, the Abdallahs welcomed their seventh child, a baby girl they have decided to name Selina, a mix of the names Sienna and Angelina (pictured, the couple’s remaining children Liana, 12, Alex, 7, and Michael, 5, meet their sister for the first time)
On Friday, the Abdallahs welcomed their seventh child, a baby girl they have decided to name Selina, a mix of the names Sienna and Angelina.
The family previously said they hoped the baby would mark a new beginning for their remaining children Liana, 12, Alex, 7, and Michael, 5.
The couple have credited their eldest daughter Liana for the idea for the sweet name of the baby who weighed a healthy 3.31kgs and was born at about 7.45am.
In adorable footage posted to the couple’s social media pages the three children are seen meeting their baby sister for the first time.
As the children excitedly seat themselves on their mother’s hospital bed she asks if they are ready to meet little Selina and places her gently in Liana’s arms.
‘Why is she crying?,’ the concerned 12-year-old asks.
‘I don’t know, because she is a baby,’ her mother replies with a laugh.
The couple have credited their eldest daughter Liana for the idea for the sweet name of the baby who weighed a healthy 3.31kgs and was born at about 7:45am on Friday morning
In adorable footage posted to the couple’s social media pages the three children are seen meeting their baby sister for the first time
Supporters quickly flooded the comment section of the video with messages of love and appreciation for the new name.
‘A beautiful name for such a precious child. May God continue to give you all strength and comfort,’ one woman wrote.
‘God bless your beautiful family. Selina is such a beautiful name,’ another wrote.
Ms Abdallah, 37, previously told the Daily Telegraph it had felt ‘surreal’ seeing baby Selina for the first time and said had cried tears of joy.
‘We’ve brought 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 Anthony’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’m almost speechless.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison publicly wrote to congratulate the family on their new daughter.
Under the couple’s announcement on Facebook Mr Morrison said: ‘Congratulations. Wonderful news, a true blessing. Jen, Abbey, Lily and I send our love to you and all your family.’
Leila and Danny Abdallah lost their daughters Sienna, 8, and Angelina, 12, and son Anthony, 13, in the tragedy at Oatlands in western Sydney on February 1, 2020
The couple had initially planned to name their daughter after one of their other children, but decided against it.
‘We wanted her to have the best possible start. I don’t feel it’s the right thing to name her after a child, after one of her siblings,’ Mr Abdallah said.
Ms Abdallah decided to keep trying for a seventh child after being inspired by Liana, who had prayed for a new baby sister and been given the right to name her.
The family was ripped apart when Samuel Davidson ploughed into their three children as they walked to get ice-cream in Sydney’s northwest.
They have launched a week-long ‘I4give’ campaign in honour of their three children and niece who died in the tragedy.
The Maronite Christian couple somehow managed to forgive the drug-affected driver who cut their children’s lives short.
They will host a host a series of talks with different religious communities, indigenous populations and at prisons and schools spreading the word about the benefits of forgiveness.
‘I learned to forgive the driver who took three of my children, I didn’t want my three surviving children to grow up angry,’ Ms Abdallah told The Daily Telegraph.
The Maronite Christian couple have somehow managed to forgive the drug-affected driver who cut their children’s lives short (pictured, the family before the horror crash)
The family was ripped apart when Samuel Davidson ploughed into their three children and their niece as they walked to get ice-cream in Sydney’s northwest
In February, the couple paid tribute to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny in a memorial mass that marked two years since the fatal crash.
‘Scott and his amazing wife Jenny Morrison, we love you from the bottom of our hearts,’ Ms Abdallah said, as she looked straight down the camera.
‘Thank you for your leadership, humility, faith and love. We really appreciate what you do for us. You haven’t left us for the last two years. We love you and we thank you for it.’
Ms Abdallah said she can’t believe two years have already passed since the tragedy as she thanked everyone for their support.
‘It honestly feels like yesterday,’ she said.
Ms Abdallah said she can’t believe two years have already passed since the tragedy as she thanked everyone for their support (she is pictured at the crash site in February 2020)
Davidson was sentenced to a maximum term of 28 years jail last year and won’t be eligible for parole until 2041.
In sentencing Judge James Bennett said Davidson’s menacing, dangerous and aggressive driving over a significant period leading up to the tragic event showed all responsibility to the road safety of others was abandoned.
The tragedy was inevitable, but the magnitude of the tragedy extended to the unimaginable, Judge Bennett said.
Davidson plans to appeal the severity of his sentence at a hearing later this year.
The Abdallahs are currently negotiating with the Parramatta Council to create a memorial site for their children and niece on the road they died on.
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