Abdallahs welcome baby Selina two years after horror crash at Oatlands

Two years after a drunk driver killed their brother and two sisters, the Abdallah children have met their new baby sister and given her a beautiful name. WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE VIDEO.

The parents of three children who were fatally mowed down by a drunk driver two years ago wept tears of joy when their newborn daughter entered the world, with Danny Abdallah declaring, “Our angels up there have given us a gift.”

Wiping away tears, an emotional Danny and wife Leila looked tenderly at their daughter, born on Friday at 7.45am weighing 3.31 kilos, as they introduced her to their three surviving children, and asked what they would like to name her.

The Abdallah family — Michael, Alex, Danny, Leila holding newborn Selina, and Liana — are overjoyed at their new addition. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Amazed, the eldest daughter Liana, who prayed only for a new sister and baby clothes last Christmas, held her lovingly, saying: “She’s beautiful, so tiny, can we please call her Selina, it’s a mix of Sienna and Angelina? I love her so much.”

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.

Michael holds his new baby sister as Alex plants a kiss on her head. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“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.”

Danny and Leila greet their seventh child.

Liana is excited to have a little sister again. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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, including Antony, Sienna and Angelina, before the tragedy that ripped their family apart.

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 Abdallahs 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.

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