The parents of three children who were fatally mowed down by a drunk driver two years ago have had a beautiful 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 crash that shocked Australia.
The couple’s new baby daughter weighs a healthy 3.31kgs and was delivered at 7.45am on Friday.
‘Thank God it went well, it felt so surreal when I saw her for the first time, she’s beautiful, I felt so happy I cried tears of joy,’ Ms Adballah told Daily Telegraph.
The parents of three children who were fatally mowed down by a drunk driver two years ago have had a beautiful baby girl
Leila and Danny Abdallah (pictured with their six children) lost their daughters Sienna, 8, and Angelina, 12, as well as their son Anthony, 13, in the Oatlands tragedy of February 1, 2020
The couple’s new baby daughter weighs a healthy 3.31kgs and was delivered at 7.45am on Friday
‘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.’
The couple had initially planned to name their daughter after one of their other children, but decided against it.
Mr Abdallah said the pair would let their eldest daughter Lianna decide the name for her new baby sister.
‘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,’ he said.
‘The middle name might be Angelina or Sienna.’
Ms Abdallah, 37, decided to keep trying for a seventh child after being inspired by Liana, who prayed for a new sister and last Christmas only requested new clothes for the baby.
The family hoped the baby would give new purpose to their remaining children Liana, 12, Alex, 7, and Michael, 5, and mark a new beginning for the family.
The Abdallahs were ripped apart when Samuel Davidson ploughed into their three children as they walked to get ice-cream in Sydney’s northwest.
Siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, (left) and Sienna 8, (right) were killed in the Oatlands tragedy on February 1 2020. Their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, (front centre) also died in the horror crash
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
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.
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 (pictured)
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 Oatlands crash site)
The Prime Minister’s wife Jenny Morrison is pictured right hugging the grieving mum at her children’s funeral in February 2020, also attended by then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian (left)
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.
Leila Abdallah pictured at the Oatlands crash site where three of her six children lost their lives
Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah and their cousin Veronique Sakr (pictured left) died in February last year while walking on a footpath when a ute ploughed into them
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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