The Pope Kissed Their Sick Daughter On The Head. They Were Amazed By What Happened 2 Months Later
REAL LIFE
The Pope Kissed Their Sick Daughter On The Head. They Were Amazed By What Happened 2 Months Later
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Joey and Kristen are a married couple whose second daughter, Gianna, had a rare blood disorder with a tumor, called juvenile xanthogranuloma, affecting only less than 5 children in the USA a year. The baby has undergone 8 surgeries and several chemotherapy treatments at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The doctors didn’t expect Gianna to survive.
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As devout Catholics, they knew about Pope Francis’s visit to Philadelphia in 2015. They knew that meeting the Pontiff is not something you just subscribe for. Their unique encounter was a last-minute arrangement, as their friend, an FBI agent, who was assisting with the safety of the event, arranged for them to take advantage of this unparalleled opportunity. The couple’s experience turned out even more special than they’d imagined as the Pope gave their daughter a kiss on the head.
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Even though for a moment they hesitated about going because they feared that Gianna’s immune system was too weak to handle such a crowd of people, the doctor approved their plan and later they were very glad they’d gone. They have never imagined the impact that moment would really have.
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The family went to a place where the Pope was scheduled to pass. When they saw the Pope coming in their direction, they lifted the baby to get the attention of one of the security guards. The guard took the baby to the Pope, who blessed her with a kiss on the head. Joey and Kristen were very excited to have witnessed this unforgettable moment.
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After that their life came back to normal with the never-ending routine of doctor’s appointments and medications. But in 6 weeks they’ve received news they didn’t even hope for – Gianna’s new scans showed that the tumor had been significantly reduced. Joey explained how big the difference with the previous scans was:
It [tumor] was basically just a blush on the screen. It was virtually invisible.
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This new astonishing development made doctors change their minds, now giving more favorable prognosis – they said it was likely that Gianna could survive. Also, her mother said that every day Gianna was getting better and stronger and that she already started kissing and pointing at things.
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They became convinced that they had witnessed a true miracle, but they also recognized the pivotal role of medical treatment in the recovery. The family believes it was no less than a divine intervention:
The kiss was God’s work, that’s for sure. But, the miracle was Him giving us the platform to reach those doctors who, ultimately, played a major role in saving Gianna’s life.
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