The parents of three children who tragically perished after being ran over and killed have spoken about how moving on required forgiving the drug-addled motorist who caused their deaths.
At the Vatican in Rome on Saturday, Danny and Leila Abdallah gave a stirring speech about forgiveness with the help of their kids Liana, 12, Alex, 7, Michael, 6, and Selina, 3 months old.
On February 1, 2020, Samuel William Davidson, who was driving while inebriated, killed their three children Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, Antony, 13, and niece Veronique Sakr, 11.
The motorist climbed the curb and struck the four kids from behind as they were strolling on the pavement on Bettington Road in Oatlands, Sydney, with three additional siblings and cousins.
The Pope invited Antony’s parents to speak at the Catholic Church’s World Meeting of Families on what would have been his 16th birthday.
Seven lovely, priceless kids walked to purchase ice cream for my niece’s birthday on a perfect summer day, Mr. Abdallah recalled.
What was supposed to be a fun outing for the young children turned into one of the worst traffic accidents Australia has ever experienced.
I could see the cops covering Antony, Selina, Angelina, and Veronique with white sheets from a distance.
In spite of “unbearable sorrow and restless nights,” Mr. Abdallah claimed he decided to pardon Davidson in order for his family to have peace.
He said, “I could either lead them to the high ground or we would be stuck in the valley of anguish and loss.”
“I decide to accept responsibility for telling my kids to take a walk.” My kids would say, “Dad, forgive him,” if they were present now.
Amazingly, Mrs. Abdallah stated she forgave the driver just two days after losing her children. She later added that her reaction to the catastrophe preserved her marriage and family.
Alex, her son, claimed he didn’t know why.
He told Catholic News Service, “When I heard my brother and sisters killed, my mom and dad told me they forgiven the driver, but I wasn’t that thrilled because I was like, “too quick.”
The young boy, age 7, claimed that he had finally forgiven Davidson from the bottom of his heart.
The opportunity presented itself for Mrs. Abdallah to wish her son Antony a “happy, heavenly 16th birthday.”
She claimed that now, when she attends mass, she feels the closest to her lost children and is at peace knowing they are in heaven.
Davidson was given a sentence last year that carries a minimum 21-year sentence and a maximum 28-year prison term that doesn’t end until 2041.
Before the collision, witnesses witnessed him driving at a top speed of 133 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, blowing past a red light, and swerving counterclockwise around a roundabout.
Ms. Abdallah, 37, constantly answers seven, adding “three in paradise and four here,” even though she has lost three children.