No, leave the leaves, she needs them to make the energy that she needs to grow.
They may look terrible now, but in a few days they will be back to normal.
Besides, the new growth needs the old growth to make the energy for the new growth to grow!
All energy for growth comes from the leaves, so, less leaves = less energy being made = less growth.
Plants can not focus or direct energy to a specific area, all energy is used equally where ever any growth is occurring, so the idea that plants can focus their energy to specific areas, is false.
Also, for a plant to be able to make decisions about where energy is directed would require that the plant has a brain capable of making conscious decisions, which they clearly do not.
Just remember,
More leaves = more energy being made = more growth and faster growth too.
Hope this helps, Organoman.