Forgiveness allowed my marriage to survive, says wife

A WOMAN whose three children were killed in a car accident says that forgiveness allowed her marriage to survive.
Leila Abdallah said this 28 months after three of her six children were killed by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs near Sydney, Australia.
“Forgiveness taught my husband Danny and I to look at each other with compassion and empathy,” she said.
“Forgiveness has begun the healing process in all of us.”
Abdallah said this at the Vatican, where the family travelled with their three surviving children and 12-week old baby girl for the World Meeting of Families 2022.
The Abdallahs were invited to speak at the Vatican event about the tragic accident in which they lost their 11-year-old niece and three children — 13-year-old Antony, 12-year-old Angelina and nine-year-old Sienna – as they were walking to buy ice-cream.
The couple shocked the world when, just days after the Feb 1, 2020, tragedy, they publicly forgave the 29-year-old man who drove his speeding car onto a sidewalk, killing the four children.
“Marriage does become challenging after grief,” Leila said.
“But me and Danny were fortunate because of the forgiveness and because of our faith, our love for each other has become deeper.”