EIGHT-year-old Jasmitha Maharajasingh, who had surgery to remove an aggressive malignant brain tumour in Israel last year, yesterday flew home in an emotional reunion with friends and family.
Holding on to her mother’s arm for support, the little Sri Lankan girl carefully made her way through the arrivals door just after 9am, greeted by a loud cheer from her very own welcoming committee.
Dressed all in pink, Jasmitha looked radiant as she took in the pretty ‘Welcome Home Jasmitha’ banner and the crowd of parents, teachers and members of the fundraising committee from the International School of Paphos, which she attended.
Her best friend Millie stood under the banner waiting to greet her. The six-year-old had just spent the past 20 minutes with her eyes glued to the arrivals door, craning her neck to peer beyond the swarm of travellers emerging from the baggage claim area. Apparently the youngster had been up and ready since 4.30am, too excited to sleep, to catch the 6am private bus they’d organised from Paphos to Larnaca airport.
Asked whether Jasmitha’s return felt like Christmas, she nodded her head enthusiastically.
Of the 15-strong crowd that had gathered to greet her, the first person the little girl chose to embrace was her father, Singh.
Moments later his wife, Sathiya, wrapped her arms around them both and all three openly wept.
“I’m really happy because she’s alive,” 31-year-old Sathiya said of her daughter’s 10 month ordeal at the Sheba Medical Centre’s Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital at Tel Hashomerm.
Jasmitha then turned to Millie. The pair looked at each other almost shyly at first and then embraced. Within minutes Jasmitha was pointing to Millie, saying “you’ve cut your hair”. The eight-year-old, who said she’d missed her friends the most during her time away, was soon asking after other schoolmates. In an expression of true friendship, the pair were soon chatting happily away as if nothing had changed.
Jasmitha also gave a special hug to her surrogate ‘big sister’ Edie-May.
The 14-year-old, who is Millie’s sister, was obviously thrilled to have the eight-year-old home.
“I just can’t believe she’s back,” she said.
Despite wearing a cap which concealed her hair loss, nothing could hide Jasmitha’s beautiful face or cloud the light that danced in her huge, dark eyes as she made her way to the coffee shop outside the airport for a quick drink before heading home.
Her teacher, Kathleen Houliotis, was relieved the ordeal was all over.
“I think the stress of it has put 10 years on my life. It’s like your own child,” she said.
Houliotis said she was particularly grateful to the head of Larnaca immigration who had allowed Jasmitha entry into Cyprus.
Apparently, the teacher received a phone call from Israel at 5am after a problem with the eight-year-old’s entry visa. The Cyprus Embassy in Israel had only issued a visa till this Sunday, prompting an issue of whether Jasmitha could be allowed to travel. Sathiya said her daughter had burst into tears and begged the authorities to let her return to her friends. It was only after the Larnaca immigration officer’s intervention that she was given the green light to board the morning flight.
Pauline Redfern, who flew to Israel to bring back both mother and daughter, broke down and wept minutes after clearing arrivals. Emotionally exhausted by the past months’ ordeal, she said: “I’m so pleased they’re home. They’ll be fine now.”
This was the fourth time Redfern had flown to Israel to spend time with the duo.
As Jasmitha sat happily among her friends, she talked about how her daddy was going to buy her a new pink Game Boy and how she was planning to become a doctor when she grew up. She also said she was excited to be going back to school, “but a little bit nervous”. The youngster then giggled with delight when Edie-May pointed out she was now something of a celebrity and had no reason to be nervous.
The tumour has left Jasmitha deaf in her left ear, but this has done little to affect her good humour. In fact her openness and chattiness, not to mention her impeccable manners, were a joy to watch. Who would have thought that less than a year ago this little girl was fighting for her life on an operating table?
“We went to Jerusalem, and Jaffa, and to where they put the crown [of thorns] on Jesus’ head, and Mary’s birthplace. We went everywhere…” Jasmitha prattled on, making her time there sound like a fun packed holiday.
Although she still has difficulty walking and seeing out of her right eye, her doctors have said in time this will pass. She is due to go back to Israel for a check-up in three to six months.
“She’s a star,” said Anona Creedy, a part-time teacher at the school.
“We’ve looked forward to this day for so long. I just can’t believe she’s back,” added Pam Christou, a full time support teacher at the school.
Public digs deep for little girl
JASMITHA’S story captured the hearts of people last October, prompting an island wide fundraising campaign that garnered over €150,000 to cover the cost of her medical bills. Her mother, a Sri Lankan housemaid, would have been unable to foot the bills as all her wages went on paying for her daughter to attend the private Paphos school.
Sathiya and Jasmitha thanked everyone for their support, including the International School of Paphos, its principal and management, her employers Mr and Mrs Panicos Solomou and the public for its love and support all these months.
Redfern thanked Hermes airports for allowing her to park for free during her trips and Cyprus Airways for giving her a free ticket.
Houliotis thanked Aman Buses for giving them the bus ride to the airport for free and Cyprus Airways for paying 50 per cent of Jasmitha and Sathiya’s tickets. The school paid the remaining 50 per cent.
