Gianna, Our Miracle
Maybe you saw her on international news in 2015: the baby kissed by Pope Francis in the Popemobile during his historic visit to Philadelphia. The media named her “The Miracle on Market Street.” To us, she is a daughter, a little sister, a grandchild and, most importantly, our miracle. She is Gianna Masciantonio.
Meet Gianna
Gianna was born on September 17, 2014 with dark hair, big brown eyes, and perfect rosebud lips. We could hardly wait to bring Gianna home, on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
From Joy to Fear
After the initial euphoria that day, the doctors had a slight concern. Gianna failed her hearing test at the hospital. Results showed the sound waves were there but were not reaching her brain. We scheduled an MRI to see if she was missing auditory nerves.
We brought Gianna to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for an MRI and were told something unimaginable: our beautiful new baby had weeks or maybe a few months to live. A large tumor was intertwined in and around the stem of her brain extending into her pons area, the most delicate part of the brain. The size and location of the tumor was aggressive and fatal and there were no surgical options. We spoke with leading pediatric hospitals across the county in the hope of getting a different answer. Unfortunately, every conversation ended the same way. Nobody could help Gianna.
From Fear to Hope
Two weeks of life turned into two months on hospice care, but Gianna continued to develop and grow. Still, it felt like we were holding our breath, unsure of where each day would lead. Faith has always been important to our family and we prayed for a miracle. On Christmas Eve, as we were getting ready for mass, a phone call changed everything.
Dr. Ira Dunkel, a specialist in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Sloan-Kettering hospital in New York was on the phone and he didn’t believe the tumor was cancerous. Shortly after the conversation, Dr. Storm performed a 10-hour biopsy on Gianna. After weeks of waiting for results, Gianna was diagnosed at five months old with a rare blood disease: Systematic JXG, and very few cases were ever reported of it attacking the brainstem. There was hope now for Gianna but it was going to take all the strength she had to survive the cure.
Battle Tested and Blessed
At six months old, Gianna started an intensive chemotherapy regimen. She spent one to two weeks in the hospital for treatment monthly. Over a 15-month period, she endured 20 surgeries on her tiny body and, at one point, a three month stay at CHOP. We would spend time Facetime big brother Dominic. We lived a day at a time. Getting through each day with the love and support of our family and friends and with prayer. Dominic’s preschool teacher introduced us to the 7 Sorrows Rosary which brought our family peace. We said it often and prayed it on conference calls with friends and family from around the United States which we continue to do today.
Living and Loving Life
Since that unforgettable kiss, Gianna has faced more challenges and more surgeries but she is also living a busy life like any other girl her age. She is the most loving, funny, happy little girl. She loves her family, friends, sleepovers, and art. Gianna will be celebrating her 10th birthday in September 2024 and is excited to be a 4th grader.
Every day there are miracles in the world, like the sun rising each morning. That may seem like an ordinary event but because of Gianna we see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Our family has been gifted with a miracle that was once considered impossible: the enduring and thriving life of Gianna Masciantonio.
If Gianna's story has moved you, we invite you to join us in making a difference. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us support more families and advance crucial research.
If you’d like to help directly, visit our secure donation page to make a one-time or recurring contribution.
And if you have other ideas for support, please contact Kristen.
When Pope Francis visited Philadelphia for the World Family of Meetings in 2015, Gianna had just turned one year old – a day the doctors told us we’d never see. We took her to the city, praying that being in the crowd, in his presence, could help sustain the strength we all still needed. To our amazement, Gianna was suddenly swept into the hands of Pope Francis who kissed and blessed her. It was an iconic moment for the world and a deeply meaningful moment for us. For our family, Pope Francis was a sanctified messenger that God has been at our side through this entire journey.
