Watch: ‘I’m Very Excited For 2024’

Jake Vella’s death earlier today has shocked the nation, but Lovin Malta is choosing to remember the inspirational 15-year-old at his most motivational and best moments. And one such moment came at the very end of last year, after Jake had spent over a year in hospital.

“I had a lot of success in 2023 while I was in the hospital, by my proudest achievement was swimming with a medical oxygen in October, while constantly using oxygen,” Vella told Lovin Malta in a short video he had sent just before the holidays .

A proper superhuman feat which perfectly encapsulates the young’s boy sheer resilience, the feat had greatly impressed Malta’s beloved record-breaking Olympic swimmer Neil Agius, who had called Jake’s swim “straight up legendary status”.

“Today, I was blown away,” Agius had written, sharing a clip of the insane feat. “Jake has every excuse (all valid) under the sun to stay in bed all day, it’s justified given his condition. Instead I find him swimming this morning with an oxygen tank, yes an oxygen tank.”

But beyond celebrating his very busy 2023, Jake also opened up with Lovin Malta about 2024.

“I am very excited to pick up new skills and knowledge in 2024,” the teenager said, sharing photos from his guitar and drumming lessons, which he had to undergo in hospital.

Jake was diagnosed with one of the rarest medical conditions on the planet, ROHHAD-NET, which only has some 75 known cases worldwide and usually has a tragically short lifespan.

The longest-living survivor of ROHHAD was 22 years old before she died, but Jake also managed to capture the hearts of the nation and beyond through his sheer resilience, participating in a number of athletic activities and marathons throughout his life, no doubt inspired by his triathlete father Josie Vella.

Rest In Peace Jake.