Family heartbreak: Father of boy fighting for his life after Oatlands tragedy pleads for prayers
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<p>Heartbroken father Assaad is “praying to God” that his son Charbel recovers after he was injured in the horrific Oatlands tragedy. Charbel’s sister Mabelle was also in the accident but survived and is currently at home recovering while her brother is in critical condition at hospital.</p>
<p>Mabelle and her brother Charbel were both injured when the 4WD hit them and five other children, but Charbel was so critically injured at the scene that paramedics were forced to intubate him before rushing him to hospital.</p>
<p>Mabelle, Charbel and a third girl were taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital for treatment after the incident.</p>
<p>Assaad said that he and his wife Rania have kept a bedside vigil willing Charbel to pull through after the accident, but it is still touch and go.</p>
<p>“Mabelle is OK, she's been released from hospital,” Assaad said to <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7967267/Oatlands-tragedy-Kassas-parents-praying-God-son-recover.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a></em>.</p>
<p>“(But) Charbel is still in a coma. We've prayed to God to help us and we hope he will help us.”</p>
<p>An aunt of Charbel said that he has horrific injuries to his body as well as brain injuries.</p>
<p>“They are going to slowly bring him out of the coma to assess the extent of his brain injuries,” the aunt said.</p>
<p>Assaad granted permission for images of his children to be published so that the community could continue to pray for his son's recovery.</p>
<p>Intricate School of Hip Hop, where the Abdallah and Kassis families attended, sent their condolences.</p>
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<p>Our deepest condolences go out to the Abdallah, Sakr, Kassis & Geagea families. Two of our students Charbel & Mabelle...</p>
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/intricatesohh/">Intricate School Of Hip Hop</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/intricatesohh/posts/2843667045668560">Sunday, February 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Our deepest condolences go out to the Abdallah, Sakr, Kassis & Geagea families,” they wrote.</p>
<p>“Two of our students Charbel & Mabelle Kassis were also involved but were lucky enough to survive the horrific accident & are currently recovering in hospital.</p>
<p>“Our prayers also go out to Christina Geagea who has been apart of our studio for many years & is the aunty to all children involved.”</p>
<p>Friends of the Kassas siblings at Maronite College of the Holy Family came together for a prayer session at the school chapel on Tuesday morning. </p>
<p>The school's principal Sister Irene Boughosn said teachers and students would be supporting the families involved in anyway they could.</p>
<p>"May the Lord give them strength and be with the families and loved ones at this time of struggle," Sister Boughosn said in a statement. </p>
<p>"Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with all those that are suffering during this time".</p>
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