How many tragic stories of child cancer and illnesses do we hear of on a weekly basis? The answer is too many – but today we have an incredible report to share with you.
A couple have credited a kiss on the head by Pope Francis with curing their one-year-old daughter’s brain tumour.
Little Gianna Masciantonio was diagnosed with systematic juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) – a rare form of brain tumour – just after her birth. Doctors told parents Joe and Kristen that the tumour was inoperable, and it was unlikely that Gianna would survive past a few weeks.
Gianna had been on multiple chemotherapy treatments in a bid to shrink the tumour, but her parents were beginning to lose hope.
The Masciantonio family, who are devout Catholics, took little Gianna out in their native Philadelphia earlier this year to mark the Pope’s US visit. Amazingly, after bringing Gianna through the crowd, the Pope kissed her head in a moving gesture for the family.
In an incredible update in Gianna’s case, the tot is reportedly finally responding to treatment, with the tumour now ‘basically gone’ according to last week’s medical consultation.
Describing the entire incident as a ‘miracle’, Joe’s family has credited Gianna’s turn-around with Pope Francis’ kiss.
“It was truly blessed. God really let her know that he heard her prayers,” said an elated Joe.
