Annabelle Vassallo hopes to live until her birthday

Annabelle Vassallo does not have big plans for her birthday in 13 days. time. She just wants to live to turn 39.

"If I manage to live until then, I would like to hold a big celebration," Ms Vassallo, who has terminal cancer, said.

Something that most other people take for granted is a big thing for Ms Vassallo, who, last December, after 28 cycles of chemotherapy, was told there was no more hope of treating the aggressive tumour in her neck that has spread to her lungs, liver and head.

"I cannot believe I've lived so long. Every day is a gift and if I manage to live until my birthday, I would like to celebrate big time," she said.

With her constant smile and unwavering faith, Ms Vassallo has won the hearts of thousands of Maltese people who have been following her story of courage against adversity. Their interest and support was clearly demonstrated when her book, Irrid Ngħix (I want to live) sold out in a matter of days.

"It was an editorial tsunami, something that never happened in 40 years," publisher Joseph Mizzi said during a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who described the book as a contribution to a country that gives importance to values.

Ms Vassallo is evidently pleased that the book - which she wrote in three weeks as steroids kept her awake at night - has sold out. "I thought it might sell some 1,000 copies at most, bought mainly by my friends. Nothing like this," she beams.

Instead, the first 10,000 copies have been snatched off the shelves and a second print run is in the pipeline.

"I knew I was writing something good. Despite the sadness, mine is a story of hope," she said.

Although there were no more treatment options available, Ms Vassallo did not wallow in misery. Instead, she put pen to paper and wrote the story of her battle with the disease and her faith in God, with all profits going to children's cancer organisation Puttinu Cares.

"It is true that I am very sick, even though I might not look it. But I do not wallow in it, just hope for another day, for a new adventure."

Her next adventure starts today, when she jets off to France with two of her friends. A trip abroad was one of Ms Vassallo's last dreams, she had admitted on March 29.

Although Air Malta offered to pay for two flights to make the woman's dream come true, travelling was not on the cards at the time because Ms Vassallo was not considered well enough to fly. But, last Saturday, she left the oncologist's clinic beaming after being given the green light to go on holiday.

"I pleaded with him to let me go. And he found me good enough to travel, as long as I remained in Europe," she said.

It was a dream she never believed would come through. Now she just hopes that her next one will be realised too and she will get to celebrate her birthday.