President Myriam Spiteri Debono has spoken candidly about the devastating loss of her husband, Dr Anthony Spiteri Debono, who passed away on 24th July, describing his death as sudden and deeply shocking.

“Death affects people in different ways,” the President said, explaining that her husband’s illness progressed rapidly over the course of just three months. What initially came without warning soon turned into a heartbreaking reality when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

As his condition worsened, the President described watching him deteriorate before her eyes.

“At the end, every hour I was seeing deterioration in him,” she said, adding that the experience gave her a new understanding of what families mean when they say they never truly grasp how a loved one’s final moments unfold.

Through her longstanding work with the Malta Community Chest Fund, President Spiteri Debono said she suddenly found herself on the other side, living the same pain and helplessness she had seen in so many families she supported over the years.

In a poignant moment, she explained how even organisations like L-Istrina were unable to help, not due to lack of compassion, but because there was simply nothing more that could be done for her husband.

Despite the immense personal loss, the President spoke with quiet resilience.

“You always do what you have to do,” she said. “You need to do what needs to be done, and you keep going.”

Her words offer a rare and deeply human insight into grief, resilience and the strength required to carry on, even in the face of profound personal tragedy.

What do you think of this candid moment?

Video credits to @listrinamalta