she floats like a butterfly, she stings like a bee, she's the pride of spain
Just over a year ago, Leah, who was just two weeks past her third birthday, was taken to a Spanish hospital where the doctors thought she would not survive the night. She was diagnosed with leukaemia and a particularly vicious strain of the disease at that.
This past year has seen Leah fight back; her tiny body has been attacked and hurt and injured more times than you think you would be able to bear on your own body - and yet she still fights back. Laying down in defeat is not her style, nor is self-pity or depression or rage. Perhaps you need to be a four year old to be able to do that, but knowing her is a lesson in life for us all.
Last week, Leah celebrated her fourth birthday, unaware as always of the poignancy that this particular birthday brought. It was a day for cake, presents and a bouncy castle. The police closed off the road around her party venue so that everything could be organised. That's how highly she is regarded in our little Spanish village. A superstar.
Superstars, as is their right, win awards, and so it was fitting then that last night, Leah won the Child of Courage Award at the first ever Pride of Spain Awards, her victory sealed by votes cast by the public. Votes no doubt cast by the entire village, people who have rallied around the family from the beginning, sending the bright white light of love to their stricken baby over and over again.
The light of love, the healing kiss of hope, travels fast and travels far. People in New Zealand and Japan, people in South Africa and Ireland, who don't know this little girl, have devoted hours of their time to help. From famous All Blacks to 15 year-old schoolboys - there is something about Leah, who in a world of sick and desperate children, has inspired people to do something. She is the single inspiration for the formation of a new foundation, the BKS Foundation, which will continue to raise money globally for children and their parents in the same situation.
At her fourth birthday last week, Leah bounced on her bouncy castle as if the lifeforce itself was propelling her. She had to be pinned in a chair beside her beautiful sister Tasha to have her photograph taken (again) when all she wanted to do was hurl herself around the castle defying the odds, defying death, defying just about everything that is ever, ever gonna try and stand in her way for the rest of her life. It was the biggest display of lust for life that I have ever seen; it was breathtaking in its sheer power.
To those of us who have come to know Leah, her sister Tasha and parents Dave and Cal, her win at the Pride of Spain Awards was no surprise. There simply could be no other recipient of the Child of Courage Award than Leah. It was written in the stars, it was a done deal, every angel in Heaven cast a vote for her.
When people are forced outside their comfort zone, only two things can happen. They can lay down and die, or they can stand up and fight back. Standing tall is what Leah's parents have done, their humility, gentleness and grace and their unshakeable faith in their daughter and their family bond saying as much about the strength of the human spirit as Leah's own fight for life and health.
Leah still has at least 15 months of intensive treatments to endure before the dedicated doctors in Alicante will even consider giving her a chance of life without chemotherapy. It is still a long and winding path this child of courage has to walk but she will never walk alone.
for more information on The BKS Foundation and how you can help please email bksfoundation@gmail.com