The Pope is arguably one of the most well-known people. He is a high-ranking official who is well-liked and respected throughout the world. He has a lot of admirers, especially in Catholic countries. Being so well-known provides the pope authority and a large platform from which to influence the world with his wise remarks.
Pope Francis
However, he shines a bright light on everything he does. There isn’t much the pope can do without someone photographing it or noting it. And that is precisely the point of this story. The pope did something that astonished people all across the world, and he made no attempt to conceal it.
On One Cloudy Day
It was a cloudy day but that didn’t stop people from attending a parade to catch a glimpse of the pope. It was the Pope’s first visitation in this city and everybody didn’t want to miss the chance to see him.
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It became impossible to spot people within the crowd because there were just so many of them! But at one point, the pope stopped the parade. He noticed something from the crowd and he couldn’t just ignore it.
The Baby From The Crowd
He noticed a couple with their baby girl. They raised their child so the pope could see her clearly. Several cameras were filming and documenting this strange moment as he reached out and kissed the girl on the head.
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But why, you might ask? There are so many questions that should be answered at this very moment but some background story is needed to do so. Let’s read further to know more about this story.
The Masciantonios
The Masciantonios are joyful people who have devoted Catholics. They desired nothing more than to have a small, close-knit family. As a result, they began attempting to conceive. Joey and Kirsten, on the other hand, were not so fortunate. They were confused as to what was wrong.
Verywell Family
There was nothing wrong with Joey or Kirsten as far as the physicians were concerned. Despite this, the couple was urged to keep trying. They had been trying for a long time, so when they found out Kirsten was expecting, they were overjoyed. The good news was fantastic, but how long would the joy last?
Their Bundle Of Joy
Gianna was the definition of perfection to her parents when she was born. As they held the tiny miracle in their arms, they couldn’t believe their blessings. But they had no idea that their euphoria would be short. The doctor will soon arrive with some very bad news.
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Gianna was due for a checkup at the age of four weeks. For Gianna’s visit, the couple drove her back to the hospital. However, their lives would change after the result of this visit. And it all started when the doctor asked if they knew of any hereditary illnesses in their families.
Confusion and Devastation
The couple had no idea what was happening. They just stared blankly at the doctor because it wasn’t something they were putting so much thought into. So, they sat for a few moments before compiling a list. Then, they recorded it and gave it to the doctor. But there was something they needed to know.
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“What are the chances?” the young couple wondered. “Well, it depends…” the doctor explained after a brief pause. He went on to say that each ailment had its own chance of occurring and that some were significantly more common or rare than they had anticipated. The Masciantonios were completely unaware of what this meant for them.
Seeking Answers To Their Questions
The couple was recommended to do a few tests after speaking with the doctor to eliminate any concerns they may have. “How would this affect the baby?” the couple wondered at first. They consented to do the tests after more explanation. This would, in the end, alter the direction of their lives.
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The Masciantonios were completely unaware that something was wrong with their newborn child. Why would they assume differently when Gianna appeared to be the picture of health? She was their ideal baby girl, according to them. The doctors, on the other hand, did not like what they observed when they examined the baby.
Something Was Completely Off The Bat
On a separate day, the couple came in to conduct tests. It was only a few minutes, but it felt like hours to the young worried parents. They were both concerned that they could be given results that they couldn’t manage. What would they do if the test findings revealed something serious?
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After reading the test results, the family’s doctor’s heart fell. He didn’t know how to tell the new parents what he’d found out. But he knew he had to do it now, and he had to do it quickly. He called the parents and asked if they could come to his office so he could break the news to them in person.
The Results That Changed Their Whole Lives
Kirsten and Joey were worried about their baby’s health. To them, nothing was wrong with their precious baby until they received a call from their doctor. It bothered them that they had to visit their physician because he had something important to tell them. However, they still hoped for the best.
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And then, just like that, the results of Gianna’s test results changed their lives. The doctor informed the Masciantonios that Gianna had Juvenile Xanthogranula (JXG), a skin disorder that occurs in children under one. Gianna will be dealing with tumors around their head and neck.
One In A Million Gianna
A tumor has developed in Gianna’s brainstem and her Central Nervous System was slowly beginning to be affected. The doctors advised the couple to start making arrangements for their child’s funeral. The news destroyed Joey and Kirsten but they knew they can’t give up, yet.
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Gianna soon began to show strange symptoms that the couple have never seen before. Whenever they call their physician, he’ll only explain how it’s just another symptom and a side effect of Gianna’s condition and her medicines. The young couple could not believe what they’re hearing when their doctor would just prescribe them something new.
Finding Ways To Fight For Their Child
Joey and Kirsten did not want to give up just like that. Instead of making funeral arrangements, they explored their options. They went through chemotherapy in order to shrink tumors. It actually worked for quite some time until it no longer did.
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By His grace, Gianna made it to her first 15-months of life with the help of chemotherapy. However, the doctors lost their hope about Gianna’s survival assurance. The chemotherapy did a wonderful job at keeping the tumor small but it was still affecting her brainstem.
The Family’s Small Hope
At this point, Gianna will never have the chance of living a completely normal life. Tumors on the brainstem are no joke. Any day could be her last. One faithful day, Joey received amazing news. He knew he had to do something about it. But what could that news be?
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Throughout the next few days, Joey wore a grin on his face. Even the physicians and coworkers remarked that the young father appeared to be much happier than usual. He simply grinned and stated he’d read something when asked what made him so happy. But what exactly was the big news? The pope was on his way to the United States!
The Pope Was Coming!
Many people are probably asking what the pope’s visit to America has to do with the baby or why Joey is so thrilled about it. The Masciantonios are a deeply religious family who places a great deal of trust in God. They took the pope’s arrival as a sign because they were Catholics. But what would happen if that happened?
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Joey, on the other hand, was about to get even more shocking news. The pope would not only be touring America, but he would also be visiting a region far closer to home, Philadelphia. The Masciantonios were overjoyed when they learned that Pope Francis would be visiting Philadelphia and this was a short drive from their house!
Doubts Seeping Through Cracks
However, uncertainty swiftly crept in. They weren’t sure if they’d be able to introduce Gianna to His Holiness or not. That day, the Catholic community would undoubtedly be out in force. This meant guiding her past a swarm of people who were all trying to catch a peek of the Pope.
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Joey and Kirsten would be two ordinary individuals among a sea of Catholics eager to meet the Pope when he came to town. They didn’t believe they were important or deserving. However, the pair received a reassuring phone call and the phone call will forever alter their child’s life.
Friends In High Places
Donny Asper was one of the family’s closest friends. He was also one of the FBI agents assigned to the Pope’s security detail during his visit to Philadelphia. Donny was well aware of Gianna’s predicament and knew precisely what he needed to do.
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One day, Donny called the Masciantonios and invited them to come to the parade. When the couple learned of this, they were overjoyed. It’s possible that this is their only chance to save Gianna. Despite Donny’s assurances, Joey had doubts that he didn’t share with his wife.
Joey’s Hesitations
Joey wasn’t telling his wife everything. He was filled with anxiety about the day deep down. He wasn’t sure if taking his sick daughter into Philadelphia’s busy, sweltering streets was the best option. It was also a long journey with a terminally ill child. What if they went and made things worse?
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Joey contacted their doctors and medical personnel, expressing his reservations about flying with Gianna in her current condition. When he expressed his concerns, the medical personnel assured him that he was overthinking things. What they were planning could not possibly make Gianna’s situation any worse.
This Is It!
After speaking with the medical team, Joey felt a little better. He and his wife appeared to have nothing to lose by taking their daughter to visit the Pope in the hopes of receiving his blessing. As a result, the Masciantonios packed their belongings and flew to Philadelphia.
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Surprisingly, the couple arrived in Philadelphia in record time. The journey was made on heavily congested routes, and it should have taken them an hour at most to complete. They did, however, arrive in thirty minutes! It was a significant blessing! But the good fortune didn’t stop there.
Continuous Flow Of Blessings
The pair secured a great parking spot as soon as they arrived. In a busy city like Philadelphia, anything like that is uncommon. But the stunning spot they landed amid the parade procession astounded the couple even more. They were in the spotlight. Then the most unbelievable thing happened.
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The couple rushed to join the crowd and hoped that they would be noticed. Joey reminded himself what his friend Donny had said. So the two of them pushed as close to the front of the crowd as they could, put Gianna in the air, and prayed for the best.
Right Place At The Right Time
Domenico Gianni, the day’s Head of Security, was scoping the crowd at the right time after hearing that he should look for something like this. He observed the tiny girl hauled into the air as he searched the perimeter. He abruptly came to a halt and approached the parents.
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Domenico took Gianna in his arms and gently carried her to the Pope, knowing what needed to be done. He was the father of the pontiff’s child. The Pope gave the baby a loving kiss on the forehead before returning her to her parents. The deed was so little and inconsequential that it seemed insignificant. But then the miracles started to happen.
Gianna’s Life Was About To Change
The family made their way to another of Gianna’s treatment sessions just days after meeting Pope Francis. Gianna received two more treatments after being kissed by the Pope. The young fighter appeared to be holding on. However, the pair have not seen any remarkable effects on their daughter as of yet.
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It was not until she had to go through an MRI. the scans had to be made to see how the tumor are developing in her brain. The doctors did not have much hope for Gianna but when the results came out, they could not believe their eyes!
The Miracle They’ve Been Waiting For
The doctors were taken aback when they saw the results. They couldn’t believe their eyes. Gianna’s tumor had come to a halt. In fact, it had shrunk much more. They couldn’t even recognize the imaging when they looked at it. The physicians hastened to inform the parents, who couldn’t believe what they were hearing!
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Joey and Kirsten were taken aback by the news. It took a while for them to figure out what was going on. They had spent so much time with Gianna on the verge of death that this news came as a shock. “The kiss was definitely God’s work,” the child’s mother added, her eyes welling up with tears. The miracle, however, had only just begun.
God Is Always At Work
Just in case, the doctors double-checked the images. However, when the doctors reviewed Gianna’s MRI data, they were still confused by what they saw. Gianna’s tumor had nearly totally vanished! The MRI results were little more than a cloud. How had that happened in the first place?
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It was as if they had scanned a different child entirely. Kirsten and Joey were taken aback when the doctors broke the news to them. Despite their doubts, their plan to get Gianna kissed by the Pope had actually worked! But there was more good news to come.
Gianna Will Now Be Able To Live A Completely Normal Life
The physicians then informed the Masciantonios of Gianna’s prognosis. And they couldn’t believe their ears when they heard what they were hearing. When their newborn girl was first diagnosed, they were told she only had a few days to live. At most, a few weeks. They’d gotten her through a year with treatment. But now everything appeared to be in a completely new light.
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And now, according to the doctors, Gianna will have a normal, healthy life! Gianna was going to live happily ever after. This was the most exciting news I’d ever heard. They exchanged disbelieving glances between each other and the doctors. When asked what they thought of her recuperation, they only had one thing to say.
Stronger Beliefs
The parents were baffled as to how their child had been cured. They had only done one thing for her: taken her to see the Pope. Could Gianna’s meeting with Pope Francis have something to do with her miraculous recovery? Doctors were astounded by this small child, who had previously been diagnosed as terminally ill.
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The Masciantonios rehearsed the events over and over. And the only thing that had transpired between her prior MRI and this one was that His Holiness had kissed her. The pair had become even more adamant believers than before. Gianna was proof that miracles do happen.
Where is Gianna Today?
Gianna is now a happy toddler, a miracle that few believed in until Pope Francis gave her his blessing. “I thank the great Lord for guiding us through this trying period and for rewarding us,” thankful mother Kristen said.
The Bump
Aside from thanking the Heavens and the Pope, the couple also credited everyone who did what they did back then. Everyone lent their hands in order to make the kiss possible. While it’s true that the kiss was a miracle, their biggest blessing was to have people around them who loved them and treasured them so much.