The Abdallah family have welcomed a baby girl, Selina. See all the precious photos of the little one
The family who lost three of their children in a horror tragedy, welcomed a baby girl earlier this year.
The nation’s hearts were full after hearing the much-loved Abdallah family welcomed a new baby girl earlier this year.
Leila and Danny Abdallah, who experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when a horror crash involving a drunk driver took the lives of three of their children and their niece in 2020, shared their happy news in a chat with the Daily Telegraph.
The couple named their newborn daughter Selina, a mix of Sienna and Angelina, after their two daughters who passed away.
Selina weighed a healthy 3.31kgs when she was delivered at 7.45am on Friday, 18th March.
Leila and Danny Abdallah welcomed their daughter Selina earlier this year.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Danny and wife Leila asked their three surviving children what they wanted to name their sister.
Their eldest daughter Liana said: “She’s beautiful, so tiny, can we please call her Selina, it’s a mix of Sienna and Angelina? I love her so much.”
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph after the little one’s arrival, proud mum, Leila Abdallah said, “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.”
“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.”
After suffering such a significant loss, the family did consider honouring their lost children by sharing their names with the new baby, but decided against the move for very sweet reasons.
“We spoke about naming our daughter after the kids but it’s not fair on the child to have the identity of the other children,’’ the proud father explained.
“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. The middle name might be Angelina or Sienna.’’
Australia’s heart broke for Leila and Danny Abdallah when a horror crash involving a drunk driver took the lives of three of their children and their niece.
One year on from the tragedy, the grieving parents shocked Australians everywhere when they publicly forgave the driver who killed Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, alongside cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, in the crash at Oatlands on February 1, 2020.
In December 2021, the family announced they are expecting another baby, saying God has blessed them with “gift from above”.
For the first time since the devastating crash, Bridget Sakr, mother of 11-year-old Veronique who was also killed in the event, has spoken out after the former truck driver’s sentence was reduced by the appeals court.
Samuel Davidson’s sentence was changed to 20 years with no parole before 15 years, which shaves six years off the original sentence
In converation with the Parramatta Advertiser, the heartbroken mum said “What does it say about our judicial system? … It was all about him getting a crushing sentence but it’s kids who were crushed.”
“No one’s going to bring back Veronique or her cousins. I just worry what this means for future tragedies.”
Over the weekend Leila Abdallah said of the reduced sentence, “I was surprised, I didn’t expect this sentence. It sets a precedent. I think it gives other people permission to drink and drive, and take drugs. And run over kids. 15 years – I don’t think it’s a lot based on what happened.”
The Abdallah family found it in their hearts to forgive the driver.
This beautiful new blessing is a welcome addition to the family for the couple’s children, Michael, Liana and Alex who have been “praying’ for a sibling.
“My children prayed they could have another brother or sister,” Leila told The Daily Telegraph.
“This is a new life, a new beginning for the kids, it has given them a new purpose in life. And seeing them happy and giving them joy is my purpose in life now.”
Determined that their family not let the unspeakable tragedy impact the happiness of their children, the couple work hard to ensure that their children have as normal a life as possible.
“We don’t want to bring them down. We want them to get married and flourish and have full lives and dream again. That is what this new baby means,” Danny Abdallah said.
On that nightmare day, the children were killed after they were struck by a ute as they walked on a footpath to get ice cream.
“FORGIVENESS gives you freedom and allows you to live your life peacefully,” Leila Abdallah said one year after a crash that took the lives of her beautiful babies.
One the anniversary of the tragic loss, the children’s families launched an annual memorial, i4Give Day “honouring our four little saints in heaven” while urging people to reflect on the importance of relationships in their lives.
“We chose to turn our tragedy into a greater goodness. We chose to carry our cross with dignity. We chose forgiveness and love over hatred…” said Leila.
“Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself.”
This incredible selfless act saw Leila named as 2021’s Mother Of The Year.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the sweetest photos of the Abdallah’s with their baby girl, Selina…
Danny and Leila Abdallah were invited by the Pope to share their heartbreaking story at the 2022 World Meeting of Families in Rome on Saturday 25 June.
The couple’s children Liana, 12, Alex, seven, Michael, six, and 14-week-old Selina were also in attendance. The event was held on what would have been the eve of Antony’s 16th birthday.
Bishops around the world were so moved by the family’s story that the Abdallahs may also get to meet the Pope.
“There’s been more than two years and I must choose to forgive myself and the driver every day, to not retreat into hatred,” Mr Abdallah told the Vatican and millions watching online.
“I choose to forgive myself for telling my kids to go for walk. I choose to forgive the offender in obedience to my Father in heaven.
“If my children were here today, they would say ‘Dad, forgive him.’
“When you forgive the other person, you start to heal.”
Leila added: “I would not have imagined we would be in the Vatican on the eve of my son’s birthday to speak about forgiveness to the world.”
The couple spoke about forgiveness and not feeling any hate towards the driver.
“As Christians, we’re meant to forgive,” she said.
“I believe the Holy Spirit has moved my lips to forgive in that moment.
“You can’t control what happens in life, but you can choose how to respond. We choose forgiveness over hatred, we choose love over revenge and we choose to turn the day of tragedy into a day of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is the core message of our Christianity. All our prayer is about forgiveness. And when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ And these are words to be taken seriously.”
The Abdallahs were also recognised by the Pope with a photo of family on his official Instagram page.
“The family is the place of encounter, of sharing, of going forth from ourselves in order to welcome others and stand beside them. The family is the first place where we learn to love.”
Watch Danny Abdallah speak in the moving video below.
The Abdallah’s and their newborn daughter, Selina
The couple named their newborn daughter Selina, a mix of Sienna and Angelina, after their two daughters who passed away.
The Abdallah family celebrate their new arrival
Sharing the gorgeous photo to Instagram, the family words of support and well wishes from hundreds of followers.
“This family deserves nothing but everything good and positive in this world… ❤️ Welcome to the world and I hope you all, whilst the tragedy must hurt and be raw, have nothing but love and happiness ahead,” commented one follower.
Added another: “Welcome to the world little Selina, the most precious name for your little bundle of joy 👶 🌈 👣 ✨ so fitting and honouring and I just love your beautiful family so much! You are all a huge inspiration and beautiful humble people. Love to you mumma, I see you. Congratulations, baby Selina you have entered this world into the most loving family 🙏🏽 🤍🤍”
Brotherly love
“Michael hugging his baby sister. Precious moment 🤍🙏🏻”
Meeting their much-loved newborn sister, Selina
“Liana, Alex and Michael meet their baby sister 🤍🙏🏻”
