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Testimony 1
I-dont-know-how-to-call-this-but-I-feel-I-should-share-with-you-I-had-Avery-difficult-pregnancy-my-days-passed-and-I-was-told-my-baby-was-overweightthe-scans-showed-it-was-a-boy-of-42-kgsi-was-so-worriedi-went-to-the-hospital-and-was-admitted-and-they-booked-me-for-csi-said-no-i-was-induced-at-2-pm-but-nothing-changed-at-11-pm-the-doctor-insisted-I-go-for-cs-but-my-heart-said-no-although-I-was-very-scared-I-told-God-let-me-die-but-my-child-live-and-my-mom-and-i-prayed-the-rosary-I-told-mother-mary-to-intercede-for-methe-doctor-instructed-the-nurse-to-prepared-the-cs-room-which-i-was-to-undergo-at-5-amat-3-am-i-had-labour-pangs-but-the-nurse-tried-so-much-to-stop-me-from-pushing-siting-the-danger-I-faintedi-woke-up-at-430-and-the-good-Lord-blessed-me-with-a-baby-girli-expected-a-boy-i-had-a-name-for-aboybut-the-name-Gianna-came-from-nowhere-and-i-named-my-daughterThank-you-saint-Gianna-for-revealing-yourself-to-mei-pray-for-another-child-
By: Eunice A.
Testimony 2
Thank-you-all-for-your-prayers-for-our-daughter-Katherine-and-her-husband-Thomas-They-had-been-trying-to-conceive-a-baby-for-several-years-Last-September-Katherine-had-surgery-to-remove-a-blocked-scarred-fallopian-tube-caused-by-surgery-she-has-as-a-child-because-of-the-childhood-cancer-neuroblastoma-she-was-able-to-conceive-a-baby-in-October-2023-It-was-a-very-high-risk-pregnancy-with-several-complications-during-the-37-weeks-she-carried-their-daughter-Baby-Margaret-Maggie-came-into-the-world-via-C-Section-on-Friday-June-28-2024-Mom-Dad-and-Maggie-are-doing-well-We-thank-God-for-our-second-miracle-First-our-daughter-surviving-childhood-cancer-30-years-ago-And-now-the-birth-of-our-first-granddaughter-We-asked-for-prayers-here-in-April-2023--Thank-you-all-for-your-prayers-Thank-you-Saint-Gianna-for-your-intercession-God-is-so-good-Jesus-I-trusted-in-You-when-you-told-me-to-not-be-afraid-but-to-just-surrender-all-to-You-and-to-trust-You-with-everything-
By: Maria Z.
Testimony 3
No one , Just pray for me , may my life gets better and have a good clean work and have a better life in the future ,
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Much love , Thank you and plz pray for me
By: 1
Testimony 4
My-granddaughter-Caroline-was-diagnosed-with-a-hole-in-her-heart-We-knew-that-she-would-require-surgery-within-a-year-of-her-birth-She-had-2-surgeries-and-is-soon-to-celebrate-birthday-3--She-is-a-vibrant-energetic-beautiful-healthy-little-girl--I-am-not-Catholic--My-daughter-and-her-family-are--I-asked-God-to-guide-me-as-searched-for-wisdom-and-guidance-upon-hearing-of-Carolines-heart-condictions--I-was-led-to-St-Gianna--I-asked-for-intercession-on-behalf-of-Caroline-and-her-Mom--I-promised-to-share-my-story-of-divine-guidance-knowing-that-other-too-will-be-searching-for-hope-and-inspriration-and-guidance-as-they-face-their-own-challenges--St-Gianna-and-her-story-provided-the-help-that-Iwe-needed--I-trust-that-others-will-also-be-blessed--
By: Kevin Pridmore
Testimony 5
Thank-you-St-Gianna-for-interceding-and-praying-on-my-behalfso-that-I-received-graces-from-Jesus-Amen
By: Preeti Matthew
Testimony 6
My-husband-and-I-had-hoped-and-prayed-for-a-baby-for-a-while-We-sadly-miscarried-our-first-baby-at-7-weeks-We-began-praying-to-St-Gianna-and-I-put-the-St-Gianna-metal-given-to-me-by-this-site-on-a-necklace-and-wore-it-almost-daily-Every-time-I-prayed-and-every-time-I-do-pray-I-feel-this-instant-connection-to-her-November-17th-2023-my-husband-and-I-had-a-healthy-beautiful-baby-girl-I-truly-believe-St-Gianna-played-a-huge-role-in-helping-us-and-Ill-always-tell-everyone-I-know-about-her-incredible-life-and-mission-Saint-Gianna-has-forever-changed-our-lives-and-I-will-forever-be-thankful-for-her-Shes-truly-my-angel-
By: Sara Conrad
Testimony 7
StGiannaMollasavedbothourgrandchildrenwithherdearkindinterventionandimmediateintercessionofprayeronourbehalfIcriedouttoherandshelistenedsavingourgranddaughterslifeThankYoudearSaintGiannaMollaandalltheangelsandsaintsDearLordwereforevergratefulrnAmenandamenForevergrateful
By: Ta B
Testimony 8
ThankyouSaintGiannaforyourmanyprayersIaskedforyourprayersearlyinmyfriendKatiespregnancyasshehadpreviouslyhadseveralmiscarriagesandhermostrecentpregnancyappearedindangerShehasjustgivenbirthtoahealthyandbeautifulbabyboyIattributethehealthandcompletionofthispregnancytoGodsBlessingandyourprayers
By: Peggy Flanagan
Testimony 9
ThankyouStGiannaAfter1yearoftryingtoconceiveoursecondbabyfollowing25yearsofinfertilitybeforeconceivingourfirstIamjust36hoursorlessawayfromdeliveringourfulltermbabyjustaweekbeforeThanksgivingMypregnancyoccurredshortlyafterIbeganprayingtoStGiannaAlthoughbabyisnothereyetwearehopefulIwillbeinlaborsoonandweareforevergratefultoStGiannaforhelpinguswithsuchabeautifulblessing
By: Elizabeth O'Neill
Testimony 10
GodblessyoustGianniforallyourintercessionofloveformysonJamesandTaratobeblessedbyGodTheprayersforthemtobeexpectingachildAmen
By: K. Vandenberg
Testimony 11
WeweretryingtogetpregnantforquitesometimeandigottoknowaboutStGiannathroughonlineandafterreadingallthetestimonialsIwantedtoputaprayerrequestforourselfsandtomysisterinlawwhohadamiscarriagethattimernOnethedayIputtheprayerrequestIgotpregnantandcametoknowaboutitafteronemonthitwassuchamiracleforusandaftersometimemysisterinlawalsogotpregnantrniamnowwritingthiswithmybeautifulhealthyperfectlittle13montholdbabyboyasatestimonyweboughtmedalsandprayercardsfromthesiteandhadsharedthemamongourfamilyandfriendsandtalkedaboutStGiannatolotsofpeopleonthedayofourboysbaptismHeissuchablessingforusfromStGiannaWealsovisitedachurchwithStGiannasholyrelicstothankforoursonThankyouStGiannaforyourprayersforusrnrnWearenowpreparingourselvesforthenextbabyandwantsStGiannatoprayforusfortherighttimernThankyouLord
By: Elizabeth Derick
Testimony 12
Thank you St. Gianna for your intercession prayers in helping my daughter become pregnant, she wears your bracelet night and day. Please continue to pray for her to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Thank you St. Gianna!
By: Tsegereda Haile-Selassie
Testimony 13
Thank you St Gianna for the gift of my grandchildren
By: E. Zygmunt
Testimony 14
Thank you Saint Gianna for protecting me and my baby throughout a risky pregnancy. Thank you for the gift of a healthy baby boy and the example of what it means to sacrifice for our children. Help me to raise up disciples of Jesus. Give patience, compassion, and understanding and let me lead them in faith by example. Amen.
By: Kristin Leo
Testimony 15
Thank you for watching over myself and my journey to become pregnant. My son just turned 1. I have prayed to St. Gianna to help my friends and many have already been blessed with pregnancies.
By: J. Bowling
Testimony 16
Dear St Gianna, thank you for the conception and safe birth of my son, Raphael! Thank you for your help as a female physician! Continue to pray for my son, family, patients, and myself.
By: Sophia Lubrin
Testimony 17
Thank you St. Gianna for your intercessions. A beautiful son was born to us in 2020 after many prayers. He is perfect in every way and he will be a servant of god. We found out that we are pregnant again. Thanks be to god for these miracles and we pray for a healthy pregnancy.
By: M. LINDEKEIT
Testimony 18
Thank you so incredibly much for our beautiful daughter, Aubrey and son, Noah...we prayed to you Saint Gianna and you blessed us...so grateful and thankful every day for our miracles granted by you and God. Please watch over them...and Joe and I and our families.
By: M. Papp & Family
Testimony 19
Thank you St Gianna! I am now 14 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby. Praise you for your holy intercession.
By: P. KAMATH
Testimony 20
Thank you St. Gianna for your powerful intercession. By the grace of God we are blessed with a beautiful baby girl on January 2021. Continue to protect and bless our family.
By: S. Rappai
Testimony 21
Dear St. Gianna! Thank you for interceding for the conception and birth of our healthy son, Raphael! Thank you for my health as I had an emergency c section. Please continue to pray for our family, our healing, and our health!
By: S. Lubrin
Testimony 22
I had prayed to St Gianna for the gift of a child. On Aug 16th 2021 I delivered a normal healthy baby. As Thanksgiving to God and St Gianna I named my daughter Gianna which also means God is Gracious
By: Angelica D'Costa
Testimony 23
Thank you for listening to my prayers and for your intercession with our holy mother and father to grant the gift of beautiful, healthy baby Jasmine for my friend Katie and her husband Jamie. I will be forever grateful.
By: Bartley Family
Testimony 24
Thank you St. Gianna for your intercession and blessing us with a beautiful daughter Gianna. Please help both of us to raise her in faith. Please protect her and be with our daughter in all her steps.
By: Riya Jacob
Testimony 25
Me and my husband want to thank St.Gianna and would like to share our testimony that we are blessed with a healthy baby girl in the month of March 2022. Thank you to everyone those who keep praying for others and we also pray every childless couple is blessed with a health baby.
By: Sabina Tellis
Testimony 26
Thank you for my mother's health, healthy girl, and other graces in a family
By: Kate Gory
Testimony 27
Thankyou St Gianna for helping my daughter conceive her wee baby and the safe delivery of a healthy beautiful baby girl called Meabh Grace
By: Pauline Murdoch
Testimony 28
Thank you so much for all of your prayers after our loss and struggle with infertility. Not long after, we conceived a child and our sweet daughter just turned 3 on Easter. I cannot say how blessed we are and grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers during one of the most difficult times of our lives. God Bless.
By: Christina Bernard
Testimony 29
Thank you dear st gianna, my brother in law had a successful brain surgery due to aneurysm.He is now at home and doing some therapy. Thank u so much AMEN
By: Weng David
Testimony 30
Thank you so much Dear St Gianna, Dawson is doing so great..before our oncology appointment is every week. now after 4 months.. pls continue ur healing for my Dawson. He is healthy now. im praying for his develpomental delays. pls let him cope up on his developental. Thank u st gianna..AMEN
By: Weng David
Testimony 31
Thanks be to God for blessing us with our beautiful baby girl! Thank you to St. Gianna and all the faithful who prayed for us. God is good!
By: Katie Underhill
Testimony 32
Dearest St. Gianna whose life inspired my faith that my daughter would be able to give birth to a child, I am in your debt.I am grateful for my belief in your compassion. She had a beautiful baby girl and then very unexpectedly became pregnant for a lovely boy. She is filled with joy that these two little miracles could possibly exist. I am grateful beyond words. Now my other daughter, who recently lost her first and only child when she was 4 month pregnant and 42 years old is praying that she will also be able to get pregnant and have a healthy child. I turn, once again to St. Gianna for hope, and for inspiration. May your tender example live in the hearts of our family. Thanks be to God.
By: MJ Grossman
Testimony 33
I had a very highrisk 2nd pregnancy, and the name Saint Gianna kept coming into our view. First our server at a restaurant told us about her, and my 1st son's teacher told us about her. I prayed to Saint Gianna, and I have a healthy, beautiful daughter, whom I named Gianna Margaret. We are so blessed.
By: J. O.
Testimony 34
Dear St. Gianna, THANK YOU for interceding on my sister's behalf. After 15 years of infertility, many treatments and advanced age, she conceived and recently gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy. When the doctors said no, God said YES. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
By: Nia Garcia
Testimony 35
I want to share my miracle story 🙏. I started praying the rosary of St Gianna around April 30, 2021. thank God I got pregnant 🙏it was a hard pregnancy but thank God baby made it safe 🙏..I delivered my baby at 34 weeks but thank God he is okay.i prayed to St Gianna every day and did novenas and prayers of her till I delivered.. I promised wearing her earrings all my pregnancy and I did and now I am a mother praise the Lord and St Gianna.. 🙌🙏this is a miracle I lived and wanted to share amen
By: Perla Villalobos
Testimony 36
Dear St. Gianna!! Thank you for your intercession for the conception of our child! Continue to bless and protect our babyinutero with abundant prayers and intercession for safe and healthy development and a holy life! Thank you so much!
By: Sophia & Chris Lubrin
Testimony 37
St. Gianna, Thank you for our answered prayer in becoming parents. You are an inspirational Saint. We are so grateful for this blessing.
By: Monica Flowers
Testimony 38
I am forever grateful for the intercession of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla for the pregnancy of my first born, I battled with infertility and treatments and was able to have a beautiful healthy baby in 2020. I am hopeful to get pregnant and have another healthy pregnancy and baby this year. Amen. Thank you St. Gianna Beretta Molla
By: Jessica R.
Testimony 39
I am thankful to St. Gianna for her prayers about my brain tumor. It was removed and I was just told it was benign with no additional need for treatment. I am grateful for her prayers and am so thankful I will have years to raise and care for my children and serve the Lord.
By: Peggy Flanagan
Testimony 40
Thanks St Gianna I am eternally grateful for your intercession which has produced great fruit in the miracle of new life in a remarkably timely manner. I haven't been grateful enough. I will redouble my prayers in Thanksgiving. Please intercede for me for complications of my pregnancy. I know you sympathise with sick pregnant women. Praying for all seeking God including those who seek His face through you. Thank you thank you thank you
By: Carol C.
Testimony 41
My husband and I tried to conceive for 3.5 years. We prayed to St. Gianna devoutly and after we visited the St. Gianna church in Missouri and placed her gloves on my stomach, I was pregnant the next month!
By: Lauren Rebert
Testimony 42
St. Gianna I am forever thankful to you for answering our petitions to you. Thank you for your intercession that you gave us a smart, sweet and kind little girl after 5 miscarriages. She is 4 years old now. And the second answered prayer is You let my husband pass the Aircraft Mechanic License which is so hard to believe that he will make it.
By: Ivory Pedral
Testimony 43
My granddaughter, Caroline, was diagnosed with a hole in her heart prior to birth. Thanks be to God through His Son Jesus, and thanks to the intercession of St Gianna, Caroline has had a successful surgery to repair her heart. She is home with her mom and dad and big brother Jack, and she is happy and healthy.
By: Kevin Pridmore
Testimony 44
My granddaughter, Caroline, was diagnosed with a hole in her heart prior to birth. Thanks be to God through His Son Jesus, and thanks to the intercession of St Gianna, Caroline has had a successful surgery to repair her heart. She is home with her mom and dad and big brother Jack, and she is happy and healthy.
By: Kevin Pridmore
Testimony 45
Thank you for my beautiful babies. Conceived only due to your blessings.
By: Suri Shar
Testimony 46
Thank you for your intercession St. Gianna on behalf of my entire family and myself. We are all recovering from Covid and my husband is home from the hospital. Praise to you Heavenly Father.
By: Debra Bartkowski
Testimony 47
Thank you for healthy baby grand daughter and well Mother after pregnancy and C section delivery
By: Dorothy DeAngelo
Testimony 48
I prayed every night to you for the safety of my unborn child. After my health problems and miscarriage, I didn't know if I could even carry a child to term. But I prayed to you and you heard me. My son is two and healthy. You listened to me even when I felt so alone and weak. Thank you is not enough for what you have done. How you helped me. I am so lucky I found you.
By: Brittany Heinz Sanderson
Testimony 49
Thank you St Gianna for blessing us with this healthy pregnancy so far xx
By: Gabriella Tassone
Testimony 50
Dear St Gianna society, Thanks to St Gianna for her
intercession yesterday. My contract has been extended. I'm still
praying in Thanksgiving to you. I want to ask for your prayers and
intercession for my other intentions please. To return to practice and
complete the necessary assessments following a long period of illness.
To conceive. We are taking advice from St Paul institute practitioner
and doing what we can to help us achieve this. However it is up to God
to decide if and when new life should be brought into existence. We
defer to and trust in Him. Thanks very much Carol
By: Carol Cunningham
Testimony 51
Saint Gianna I and my husband are so thankful for hearing our petition, after 2 yrs and half of being married and trying to convince for a long time now happened🥰I am 3 months pregnant, please kindly looked over after me and my baby, thank you so so so much saint gianna
By: Lorena Gellecanea
Testimony 52
Thank you Saint Gianna! Currently holding my two month old because of you!
By: Ann S.
Testimony 53
Through the intercession of St.Gianna I got pregnant after long years in 2016. We prayed placing miraculous medal in my tummy for 3 months along with the prayer to St.Gianna. I got pregnant and the pregnancy days was very safe without any complications and had a safe delivery evnthough it was c.section. We got a normal healthybaby girl in 2017.And again I got pregnant in 2018 but I wasnt aware ofmy pregnancy till I was 22 weeks. I prayed to God through the strong intercession of St.Gianna the remaining months and gave birth to another normal and healthy baby girl..Both babies are fine. I am thanking St.Gianna for his powerful and merciful intercession to God for my prayer..Above all I thank the Almighty God My Father for his countless mercy pouring upon us..Thankyou Mother Mary for her Love and Affection towards us..Praise you Jesus..Halleluigh..Ave Maria
By: Twinkle KURIAN
Testimony 54
Hello! My husband and I were having trouble conceiving for at least 9mos when I needed a "break". A friend of mine and I decided to go to a St Gianna Veneration at a local. church. (My friend had had several miscarriages leading up to that). We went with our motherinlaws and enjoyed the service about St Gianna who neither of us had known about. We touched her wedding gown, gloves, and brought home a St. Gianna medal. A couple weeks later, my friend told me she was pregnant! I was so excited for her. The next week, I found out I was pregnant too, with twins!!! Our children are 1 weeks apart and we call them our "St. Gianna Babies". I know they were a blessing from God with St Giannas help. Since then, I encourage others who struggle with fertility to reach out for St. Giannas comfort.
By: Kate Pinto
Testimony 55
I’m writing to tell you a story of my experience with St Gianna. A few years ago, my husband and I were trying to conceive again after experiencing the loss of a pregnancy. I decided to try a devotional, something I’d never done before, and that’s how I came across your website. You were kind enough to send me a parcel of items related to St Gianna, including a pendant, which I put on an old chain. I wore it everywhere, and tried to pray the rosary every night with a special prayer to St Gianna.
One day, after being out and about in town, I realised the clap of my old chain had broken, and the pendant had fallen off. I had walked so much that day, I knew there was no way I could retract all my steps to find it. I was terribly sad, and wondered if it was some kind of sign that I should let go of my dream to have a child. But later that week, I discovered I was pregnant with my son, who is now 1 1/2. I feel St Gianna was telling me to let go, not of hope but of worry, because all was well.
I remembered that story today because we are hoping to conceive again, and I am trying to focus my energy on prayer and devotion.
Thanks so much for your help!
By: A. Nagle
Testimony 56
Thank you St. Gianna for your prayers. We have such a beautiful blessing to our family. In Jesus Name, thank you for our Evelyn.
By: Kara Wirtz
Testimony 57
I am very grateful for St. Gianna's intercession for my friends, Matthew and Dee who have conceived a baby and are happy enjoying their pregnancy. I pray for them to be amazing parents, for a healthy and blessed baby and for the blessings of God always in their lives.
By: Vanessa Cuttita
Testimony 58
Thank you to St Gianna and her intersession through our Blessed Mother and and Jesus for a beautiful baby boy who came into my daughter and soninlaw life in November 2020 by way of adoption.
By: Levita Pires
Testimony 59
After 10+ years of infertility, I met St. Gianna's daughter, Gianna, at a retreat. I told her my heart's desire and asked her to pray for her mother's intercession. Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. A true miracle!
By: Windy Hadley
Testimony 60
Dear Saint Gianna, thank you for your intercession and my prayers answered in Jesus name Amen
By: Roy Butler
Testimony 61
Thank you, St. Gianna. We are finally pregnant after two years. Please watch over this baby and keep us safe.
By: Kristin S.
Testimony 62
Dear St. Gianna, thank you for helping my friend Sophie to be blessed with a beautiful baby after many years of being discouraged of even having the happiness to be a mother. At last you interceded with Our Lord Jesus and Mother Mary and answered her prayers. Thank you for the miracle!
By: Sandra Fernandes
Testimony 63
Dear St. Gianna, Thank you so much for helping us conceive our miracle baby! After so many unsure moments on our journey, we truly know you had a part in helping us conceive. We are very grateful!
By: Ksitlyn Sabatka
Testimony 64
In April last year I had made a donation to light candles at the
shrine in conjunction with her feast day. My specific intention was to
be blessed with more children soon. Thanks be to God, through St.
Gianna's prayers, I am now more than 4 months pregnant. My heart
overflows with gratitude to Almighty God for this gift. I thought you
all would be heartened by this testimony of the power of prayer.
By: Melissa N.
Testimony 65
Thank you for the safe delivery of two healthy, happy babies!
By: Sarah Bearden
Testimony 66
For almost 2 years my husband and I were trying to conceive. It felt hopeless because I knew I was almost 40 years old at the time. I went to speak with my priest because I couldn't understand why I couldn't get pregnant yet I watched so many receive that gift and didn't want it. I was raised in a strict Italian family who never believed in questioning our religion. After a lot of selfpity nights, I bought a medal of St Gianna and received her prayer card that included her novena. I faithfully prayed the novena to St Gianna every night and begged her to help me. About 5 months later, I was pregnant with my baby girl. I continued to pray every day in thanks to her and I gave the name "Gianna" to my daughter as her middle name. She will also be taking "Gianna" as her confirmation name this year. My daughter knows how she came into my world and I have raised her to lean on St Gianna in her times of uncertainty. I know St Gianna interceded for me and I will praise her every day of my life for the best gift that I ever received. She is also a beautiful role model for all mothers to teach to their daughters. She was beautiful, smart and loving whose faith in our Lord was tested and never wavered.
By: Angela Sigmund
Testimony 67
For almost 2 years my husband and I were trying to conceive. It felt hopeless because I knew I was almost 40 years old at the time. I went to speak with my priest because I couldn't understand why I couldn't get pregnant yet I watched so many receive that gift and didn't want it. I was raised in a strict Italian family who never believed in questioning our religion. After a lot of selfpity nights, I bought a medal of St Gianna and received her prayer card that included her novena. I faithfully prayed the novena to St Gianna every night and begged her to help me. About 5 months later, I was pregnant with my baby girl. I continued to pray every day in thanks to her and I gave the name "Gianna" to my daughter as her middle name. She will also be taking "Gianna" as her confirmation name this year. My daughter knows how she came into my world and I have raised her to lean on St Gianna in her times of uncertainty. I know St Gianna interceded for me and I will praise her every day of my life for the best gift that I ever received. She is also a beautiful role model for all mothers to teach to their daughters. She was beautiful, smart and loving whose faith in our Lord was tested and never wavered.
By: Angela Sigmund
Testimony 68
Thank you for our new cousin Gianna Rose born today
By: Heather Marchese
Testimony 69
I purchased and placed a medal on a picture of my son and his wife. Along with praying the Novena for several months. The previously miscarried three pregnancies. Yesterday the good Lord granted the many prayers and they had a healthy baby girl. I'm very thankful to have found this site and Keep the Faith!
By: C. Lake
Testimony 70
I am very thankful to Saint Gianna for the smooth delivery of my sister in law and for her healthy baby boy. Thank you Saint Gianna
By: Reema Fontes
Testimony 71
After many prayers, God has blessed us with a healthy baby girl. We are so thankful to God and for the prayers of St. Gianna and all of those who may have prayed for us.
By: Ian Matthews
Testimony 72
I was praying continuously for a year after my marriage for a gift of a child. I was not able to conceive this November i happened to come across this saint online and prayed eagerly and said the novena and requested for a St Gianna medal. the day I got the medal delivered via the post the day i checked my pregnant test and miraculously it was positive. Thank You St Gianna.
By: Sonia Fernandes
Testimony 73
Thank you for allowing me to conceive my baby boy!!
By: Michelle Virgil
Testimony 74
I would like to thank St. Gianna and everyone who prayed for my petition to have a child after 8 years of struggling with infertility. I wrote my petition on 882019 and found out I was pregnant on 1182019. We have a beautiful little girl, Alice, who will be 5 months next week.
By: Monica Flowers
Testimony 75
Thank you Saint Gianna for helping bring about the beautiful child Evangeline Vivian. Thank you for her health and for your future blessings for her. We love you.
By: Jillian Duranko
Testimony 76
Mother, thank you so much for interceding and blessing me with my pregnancy. With your blessings I got a positive result after battling with infertility for two years. Please bless me to have a healthy pregnancy and a beautiful healthy child. Thank you dearest St. Gianna.
By: Vinitha V.
Testimony 77
Marital Healing On March 23, 2020, just after the COVID19 shutdown and ban on public Masses in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, my husband and I travelled to the Shrine of St. Gianna for the first time since there was Eucharistic Adoration and most churches were not even open for prayer. I prayed for each my children and I prayed that my husband and I, of almost 30 years, would be madly in love as well as some other intentions. Our marriage has been plagued by my diagnosis of manic depression at the age of 25 and I have lost count of the number of hospitalizations since our marriage not to mention the two before we even met. Our children have suffered the consequences as well and maybe even more so. Recently, something had been troubling me which I had discussed with my husband and on October 27, 2020, while I was at Mass I poured out my heart to our Lord as I often do, surrendered myself to Him and knew that my life was in His hands. Ever since then I have had such a deep love for my husband that I have never experienced to this extent before and he is reciprocating as well and expressing his intense love for me. I had said a Novena to St. Jude for a husband based on the Book of Tobit and the verse from the Jerusalem Bible regarding the betrothal of Tobit's son Tobias to Sarah. Tobit 6:18 "And when Tobias heard Raphael say this, when he understood that Sarah was his sister, a kinswoman of his father's family, he fell so deeply in love with her that he could no longer call his heart his own". My husband called me on the Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, March 19, within 2 weeks of completing the Novena, and we went on our first date. For whatever reason I feel as though I am just beginning to give myself to my husband completely and am gradually relinquishing the control that dominated our marriage. I am experiencing such deep peace and joy in doing so. I feel like the woman at the well and want to tell everyone about God's infinite mercy. If He can transform my heart, my life, then He can transform anyone's. Thank you St. Gianna for your intercession. I am eternally grateful and providentially I got to meet her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, and hear her speak at the World Meeting of Families in 2015.
By: Caroline Guy
Testimony 78
Thank you Saint Gianna for our beautiful daughter, Anastasia.
By: Teresa Salcedo
Testimony 79
After praying St. Gianna's novena, I had a positive pregnancy test on the Feast of St. Gerard (patron of expectant moms). Please keep us in your prayers.
By: Kelly R.
Testimony 80
I want to thank Saint Gianna. Two years ago at the age of 44 years I became pregnant for the first time, which was not planned. At the same time a Tumor was found in my ovary. I decided not to abort my child. In the 16th week I was operated and the Tumor was diagnosed as Ovarian cancer. I got chemotherapy. Doctor promised it would not harm the Baby. And so it was. My son is two and a half years old now and I am fine. Nobody believed this possible. But I prayed to saint Gianna. Although I am not catholic I am sure, she helped.
By: Christiane Maag
Testimony 81
Thank you St.Gianna for your intercession to my friend Chaithra...Thank you for blessing her with motherhood.
By: Reema Fantes
Testimony 82
Thank you st gianna for success stemcell transplant of my Son. He is doing well now.. Pls give a total healing for my son.. Thank u..we love you st Gianna.
By: David Whena
Testimony 83
For years, my husband and I were trying to conceive. About two years ago, I began praying to Saint Gianna asking for her intercession. I wore her medal that I received through this foundation. I am overjoyed to thank Gianna for her intercession we now have a beautiful 7 month old daughter, Cecelia Grace.
By: Claire Deck
Testimony 84
I wanted to send you an update! Our sweet little miracle baby that me and my husband prayed for was born August 20th 2020! He is just perfect and everything we prayed for!
By: The Stone Family
Testimony 85
Thank you St Gianna, for your intercession. My prayers were answered and the favor I asked for was given. I am so grateful. Thank you for your kindness and thank you to our generous Lord for his generosity, love and care.
By: Mary O'Sullivan
Testimony 86
THANK YOU St Gianna for answering my prayers and giving me the gift of a pregnancy. We are so happy. I prayed to you every day and had hope that our dreams would come true. I will honor you throughout our lives and promise to be a selfless Mother as you have taught me. Amen
By: Rosa C.
Testimony 87
After five miscarriages my husband and I were blessed with a beautiful healthy baby boy in December 2019. I was baptized into the Catholic Church as an adult and St Gianna was my Saint. I prayed to her every night and wore her medallion that was touched to her relics everyday. Thank you to everyone that prayed along with us. Blessings to you all! St Gianna, we lift you up everyday.
By: Selena Ramirez
Testimony 88
A belated thank you Dear St. Gianna from my petition on 2520 praying for my daughter Laurie who at 13 days post partum with 2nd baby was hospitalized with cardiac issues. She was completely cured within a month and no more issues! We now pray that her husband won't lose his job as a United Pilot since Covid19 they are in serious danger due to cutbacks.
By: Ann Murray
Testimony 89
Thank you, Mother Gianna, for your grace! My colonoscopy went on well, and I had a normal reading with my colon looking healthy and fine. Words aren't enough to express my happiness and gratitude today! Thank you mother and always lead us through the path of righteousness!
By: Devi Srini
Testimony 90
Thankyou Mother Gianna, my pelvic scan went normal. Kindly bless me soon with a blessed daughter! I am thankful that your grace is over me and my family! Thankyou mother!
By: Devi Srini
Testimony 91
Thank you, St. Gianna, for hearing and answering our prayers!
By: Sara Jemo
Testimony 92
Thank you so much St Gianna, Jesus and Our Lady for the safe delivery of our daughter's twins (a beautiful boy and girl) her first babies. They prayed for one baby and were blessed with two! Never give up hope. Nothing is impossible to God and miracles do happen. Thank you
By: Sandra McGivern
Testimony 93
Thank you Saint Gianna. I prayed to you the beginning of December 2019 and wear a bracelet with your charm. I prayed to finally be able to have a sweet little healthy baby. December 23 2019, we found out we were pregnant after years of trying! I am currently due August 29th 2020 with a little boy. Thank you for this blessing and I continue to pray for a safe and healthy rest of the pregnancy and birth of my son. You have blessed us more than words could write.
By: Susan Stone
Testimony 94
I am a pediatrician and ER doctor who has prayed to St. Gianna for help and guidance for years. I found the prayer for fertility on 5/27/2020. My daughter and son in law have attempted to conceive for ten years. I prayed for them and 1 hour later she called me to say her test was positive that morning. Thank you St. Gianna!
By: Gregory Glowacki
Testimony 95
A few weeks ago, I asked for prayer for my great nephew, Jack. I am pleased to report that baby Jack is home from the NICU and doing well. Thank you St GIANNA and friends!
By: Mary Keegan
Testimony 96
Thanks Saint Gianna for interceding for me and my husband (Aniebietpa Felix Obong) In your mercy lord may you bless us with children in Jesus name Amen.
By: Adeline & Aniebietpa Agan Obong
Testimony 97
Through St. Gianna, my heart is full of hope. I almost lost my faith, but when I read about St. Gianna's story, i knew it in my heart that she will intercede through Lord Jesus Christ and will grant my wish to become a mother. I am really hoping and longing to conceive
By: Princess Robles
Testimony 98
My husband and I had 2 second trimester miscarriages before my son (now 4) and daughter (now 2) were born. We had to be seen by a high risk doctor and knew that there was a chance we may not be able to have healthy children. We named our first daughter Charlie Gianna and prayed continuously for the intercession of St. Gianna during this time. Our prayers were answered and we have been blessed with 2 beautiful, healthy children. We will always remember the 2 babies who we lost and we will eternally be grateful to St. Gianna and the Lord Jesus Christ for our 2 beautiful children here on earth with us. I have shared my testimony with other women I know trying to conceive a child and St. Gianna has also interceded on their behalf. This includes a 40 year old woman who was told she could not have children, a 35 year old woman who was told she had no more healthy eggs and a young woman who struggled to get pregnant and experienced a miscarriage when she finally did. All three of these women now have healthy babies and I believe that is much in part to the intercession of St. Gianna. I will continue to share my testimony of her patronage.
By: Jackie Marable
Testimony 99
I prayed to St. Gianna to help my son and his wife conceive a child and my prayers were answered. The baby is due in July and now I pray to St. Gianna for a healthy baby and safe delivery.
By: Susan Sistler
Testimony 100
I prayed novenas to St Gianna for 7 years, at home and at the shrine for my daughter and her husband to have a baby. I often reached out to her as a mother, or as a doctor, or as a strong woman. I never doubted that she would let me down. Eventually I prayed for me to have the strength to help my daughter deal with whatever was meant to her. My very dear friend asked for a copy of her Novena and prayed daily for my daughter too. Our prayers were answered when a beautiful baby girl was born and a woman unselfishly gave her to my daughter and husband to adopt .
By: Linda Hagarty
Testimony 101
In early 2007 my wife (at the time) and I found out she was pregnant. The excitement of this news was quickly quenched at our first doctor's appointment. There we were told that her hormone levels were not where they needed to be; and in all likelihood we would lose the pregnancy either through a miscarriage or a very high risk ectopic pregnancy. She had suffered a miscarriage a few years prior. While this news was very disheartening, we prayed and decided we would put the fate of this child in God's hands and see what His plans were for us. Around this time; on a routine Sunday; some representatives from the Shrine of St. Gianna visited our Parish (St. Eleanor's in Collegeville). We were both fascinated by the story of St. Gianna's life. After mass these same representatives announced that they had with them one of the relics from St. Gianna a glove that belonged to her. My wife (at the time) kissed the glove; while we both prayed to St. Gianna to intercede for us. Following this, thanks so St. Gianna's intercession, things started to happen. Our family doctor (not the doctor who thought we would miscarry); recommended us to a Neo Natal Specialist. We started going to biweekly doctor's visits. The miscarriage prognosis never materialized. Last October our son turned 14 and he is the sweetest, healthiest young man. The story of the life of St. Gianna can stand on its own as an amazing story of faith, perseverance and courage, but we know that even today she does intercede for those who call on her.
By: Abraham Shenoy
Testimony 102
St. Gianna has interceded for us with prayers for my daughter more than once, most recently just a week ago. Previously after a heartbreaking miscarriage at 14 weeks she and her husband conceived 3 months later and a baby boy born was born 2 weeks ago.However 10 days after birth she had complications from a serious life threatening infections. After 4 days in the hosp the infection started to subside only to be followed by a cardiac condition requiring to be lifeflighted by helicopter from our small town to a cardiac unit. I had just finished a book on St. Gianna that was sent to me by this foundation. We prayed fervently for St. Gianna's intercession and after one night in the hospital and good cardiac tests she has returned home to her 2 children. She is a very active in the prolife movement and is the youth minister of our parish. I know St. Gianna interceded for us. (By the way she is a Dr. in Pharmacy so I feel St. Dr. Gianna helped her. Trust her intercession and keep praying as we will!
By: Ann Murray
Testimony 103
PERICARDIAL TERATOMA, RARE TUMOR IN BABY THAT HAS ONLY BEEN DOCUMENTED 12 TIMES! Gianna Faith!
Hi, my name is Kendra G. and I am from Springfield, Missouri and have an odd question. How does one go about sharing a miracle of Saint Gianna? I have a personal story that is just beyond coincidence and can be backed up medically, as well. But before getting ahead of myself and diving into a very long, detailed account, I'd like to first give a brief summary and see where to go from there...
I am 27 years old and have been married for 8 years to my husband, Lance, a soldier for The Missouri National Guard who served 18 months in Iraq after 9/11. We have a 6 year old son, and in 2011 we discovered I was pregnant with our second child. Only this pregnancy was very different. I did not know I was pregnant until 26 weeks along nor did I show any signs either. My doctor informed me that they found a serious, large mass on my daughter's heart... Something they had never seen before and I was instantly rushed to a perinatologist. But not before my doctor let me know "it was too late to terminate. The outcome did not look good, and if only I had discovered the pregnancy earlier, then I could have terminated..." I was shocked at that. I could never consider that option. But I could see many women out there in this situation choosing termination if they were not as far because the doctors painted such a grim, horrible outcome.... It would scare anyone from completing the pregnancy. But luckily that choice was made for me by God. I knew there my daughter and I were going on a journey set forth by Him. My doctor informed me the baby had a pericardial teratoma, a very, very rare heart tumor that has only been formally documented 12 times. The following week I was sent to Children's Mercy of Kansas City to meet a team of surgeons and doctors that would be part of the birth plan, because the mass would kill her instantly at birth, if not in utero. But I wasn't able to get to that meeting because a doctor discovered the tumor had led to an even serious condition called hydrops. Hydrops and tamponades are death sentences for a baby not even 30 weeks along. The pressure of the water and fluid pressing on her heart and organs was squishing her lungs flat and would stop her heart at anytime. She developed the hydrops within days so I was placed on severe bed rest at Truman Medical Hospital and was told to wait until she went into respiratory distress. The doctors hoped it wouldn't happen until she was at least 35 weeks, otherwise she'd never survive the surgery necessary at birth. Between premature lungs, organs, birth weight, the tumor affecting her heart beat and blood flow, the size of veins would be too small to survive life on the echmo machine (an external iron lung for severe preemies), my husband and I were told to prepare for her probable death. During this time, we thought of baby names and knew to consider the fact the name may only go on a tombstone. My mother and father who were raised Catholic suggested the name Gianna, among a list of others. I instantly picked and loved Gianna because I had never heard of it and it sounded Italian, like my heritage. At that point, nothing else was said of the name Gianna. We chose Faith as her middle name. My mom began calling saying she was having dreams about a lady assuring her everything would be ok... That Gianna had a purpose and would make it. My mother is normally very reserved about her faith because she is a quiet, Godfearing woman. So this was out of the ordinary for her. Not only that but the perinatologist looked exactly like my deceased Nana, my mother's mom who was a deeply devoted Christian who inspired every soul she met. We were so happy when she discovered Gianna had the word Nana in it. We assumed Nana was watching over Gianna and me and this was all in that plan. (I know see my nana resembles Saint Gianna a bit.) I felt a sense of calm despite the constant storm of bad news and worsening condition. To speed this story along, I went into preterm labor at only 32 weeks. I had severe polyhydramnios and it caused my water to break early. A team of 60 doctors awaited our arrival and they tapped her heart in utero to release pressure and able to perform open thoracic surgery immediately. The hydrops made Gianna weigh in at 6 lbs because she was so swollen with fluid. She survived the 8 hour surgery and was deemed a miracle by all the staff. But she had to stay in level 4 NICU for 3 months due to feeding issues and preemie complications.
. . A nurse in the NICU asked me if I named Gianna after the Saint Gianna, the saint for pregnant women and pediatrics. I was speechless. I told her I had never heard of the Saint and was amazed. I researched her story and history and felt connected right away. My daughter is here today because of God and Saint Gianna's guidance. We had millions of prayers reaching us, and in hospital prayer circles, and I know these prayers were being lifted to Saint Gianna. After my daughter's successful surgery, I ran into one of her doctors and thanked her. The doctor shook her head in awe and pointed up saying, "she is here because of God. There is no reason why she is here other than because of that. We didn't do anything... It was all God. It did not look good... It's amazing she survived through it all. She's a fighter." I have never ever heard a doctor give God credit before. But that is how serious my daughter's condition was. There was no medical reason for how she survived each horrible hurdle and seemed to come out shining in the end. Again, this is a very limited overall of my story. But it can't be told even briefly without a huge back story. I don't even know if this could qualify as a work of Saint Gianna's because I do not know the proper protocol and procedures of where to take this. But I knew it couldn't hurt to try. I have medical records and pictures, if interested in hearing the story in its entirety.
Thank you for reading,
Kendra
Sent using CloudMagic
2 Attached Images
By: Kendra, Springfield, MISSOURI, September 21, 2014
Testimony 104
BLESSINGS OF THE WEDDING!!!
Dearest Saint Gianna. With much gratitude I am here to tell you about our beautiful and most sacred of ceremonies our wedding. We felt the present of God and all the saints, where much love surrounded us on the 24/2/2014. If it was not for your constant and unwavering intercession and the many prayers sent forth on our behalf to Our Heavenly Father to aid James and me I know that this marriage would have been a most difficult reality to manifest. Thank you and everyone who have been with us on our journey to fulfil the sacredness of marriage. James and I are forever grateful for your guidance and love and pray for you to intercede and watch over us always. Love Always to you Saint Gianna and to The St Gianna Society and to Our Lord Jesus Christ along with all the Saints and Angels.
By: Annie, COUNTRY OF AUSTRALIA, March 25, 2014
Testimony 105
8 YEAR OLD BOY!!!
Our youngest son now 8 is named JohnVictor after Saint Gianna Molla. He was born at 25 weeks due to a uterine rupture. The Dr asked me if there was anything she could do for me as she helped wheel me down the hall for emergency
surgery for the rupture. I asked her to pray to St Gianna Molla forgetting that she was Jewish. She said " I don't have any connections like that but I will do what ever you ask." and she did�. I think she knew then I was going to die. I found out after that they did not expect either me or my son to survive. We did
but they were unable to use anesthesia due to not being able to get a vein for an IV so they applied pressure to my neck and cut off the oxygen supply to my brain so I passed out and they delivered our little guy. They said he was swimming in
a pool of blood and that he would have catastrophic health and mental problems and if we wanted we could pull the plug due to his very grave condition. A priest that was also an OB was there for the delivery and told our priest he could not explain how we survived but through God. We are very grateful for the
intercession of St Gianna Molla, then Blessed. Our son is now a very healthy and active 8 year old that loves dirt bikes and football. He has no real signs of being a preemie except he is a little small. At birth he was 1.13 lbs and 11inches long.
Thank you
Cyndi Smith
By: Cyndi S.,
Testimony 106
[Editor's Note: This testimony will be translated into English bit by bit as I find time.]
Testemunho Pessoal: Personal testimony
My sister, Amanda, while in her second pregnancy, had some problems with doctors. In November of 2011, my mother called me very worried, as she had high blood pressure, very swollen, with many personal concerns. She asked me to pray which I did. In December, I went to spend the holidays in Itabuna and she continued very worried, agitated, she had no trust in her doctor, and every day she was more and more nervous. On one certain night, her son woke up at daybreak crying very much because he had dreamed that she had died, and asked to sleep with her. He spent the entire night holding her hand and asking her not to leave him. The next day she told me of his dream and my heart filled with anguish, and I started to call on God's Mercy. I began to wonder if there was some saint with this mission, but I couldn't remember anyone, so I appealed to our Lady of a Good Delivery, beginning a novena as there was nobody better than the one who gave birth to the Son of God to intercede for one more mother and I started to fast.
[Minha irm�, Amanda, estava na segunda gravidez, teve alguns problemas com m�dicos, em Novembro de 2011 minha m�e me liga muito preocupada, pois ela estava com press�o alta, muito inchada, com muitas preocupa��es pessoais, pediu que eu rezasse, assim fiz eu. Em dezembro fui passar f�rias em Itabuna e ela sempre muito preocupada, agitada, o medico n�o passava confian�a e cada dia ela ficava mais nervosa. Em uma determinada noite, o filho dela acordou de madrugada chorando muito, porque tinha sonhado que ela morria, e pediu para dormir com ela, ele passou a noite toda segurando a m�o dela e pedindo para ela n�o o deixar. No outro dia, ela me comentou o sonho dele e o meu cora��o se encheu de angustia, e comecei aclamar a miseric�rdia de Deus. Comecei a pensar se tinha algum santo com esta miss�o, mas n�o consegui lembrar de nenhum, ent�o me apeguei com N. Senhora do Bom Parto, iniciando uma novena, ningu�m melhor do que Aquela que deu a luz ao Filho de Deus para interceder por mais uma m�e e fiz um jejum.]
At this time I made the vocational road of the Shalom Community, and every year we are called to become acquainted with the life of a saint. Inside a basket little pieces of paper are placed with the name of a saint of the Church. When I took the paper with Saint Gianna's name, I stopped, I looked, when Quele Oliveira, a friend and a community sister came to tell me whom she had picked. She asked me who would be my saint that year, I said I didn't know and I said the name, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. When I stopped speaking, a brother, Sergio Cruz, told me that he had seen an emotional documentary about her, because she was an Italian physician who had died because of problems with her pregnancy and that between her life and the life of the child, she had chosen the life of her daughter. I was sorry at that moment, the emotion was so great that you can't imagine, I shared with them the whole situation, praising and thanking God for such mercy, God always surprises us.
[Neste tempo eu fazia o caminho vocacional da Comunidade Shalom, e todos os anos somos chamados a conhecer a vida de um santo, dentro de uma cesta � colocado em pequenos papeis o nome de cada santo da Igreja, quando peguei o papel tinha escrito Santa Gianna, eu parei, olhei, quando Quele Oliveira, amiga e irm� da comunidade veio me dizer quem ela tinha tirado e me perguntou quem seria o meu santo naquele ano, eu disse que n�o conhecia e citei o nome, Santa Gianna Beretta, quando eu terminei de falar, um irm�o, Sergio Cruz, me disse que �tinha assistido um document�rio sobre ela emocionante, porque ela era uma m�dica italiana que faleceu por problemas na gravidez e que entre a vida dela e a da crian�a� ela tinha escolhido pela vida de sua filha.Eu me arrepiei na mesma hora, a emo��o foi t�o grande que voc�s nem imaginam, partilhei com eles toda a situa��o, louvando e agradecendo a Deus por tamanha miseric�rdia, Deus sempre nos surpreende.]
As I had already started the novena with our Lady of a Good Delivery, I continued it, and I asked the intercession of Saint Gianna for that whole situation, that at a certain hour she place the right doctors to accompany the delivery, that she anoint them with wisdom to know what to do, as she knew both sides, as mother and as a doctor.
[Como j� tinha iniciado a novena com N. Senhora do Bom Parto, eu dei continuidade, e pedi a intercess�o de Santa Gianna sob toda aquela situa��o, que na hora certa ela colocasse os m�dicos certos para acompanhar o parto, que ela ungisse com sabedoria para que eles soubessem o que fazer, pois ela conhecia os dois lados, tanto como m�e, como quanto m�dica.]
The delivery was set for January 30th [2012].
O parto foi marcado para o dia 30 de Janeiro.
I was serving at Acamps (?) at the end of the week of Day 20. When I was at prayer, I said to God, "Lord, I don't want to put conditions on praying this novena this weekend, but I trust in You. You are the Lord of life and of death. I hand over the life of my sister and of my whole family". Before finishing this prayer, the Lord placed in my heart this thought: " Take care of my people and I will take care of yours" My heart filled with such a great peace, that the only thing I could do was to thank God and serve Him. I finished cleaning up my things and I continued to Acamps (?).
Eu fui servi no Acamp�s no fim de semana do dia 20, quando estava em ora��o disse para Deus: �Senhor eu n�o foi vou ter condi��es de rezar a novena esse fim de semana, mas eu confio em V�s. Tu �s o Senhor da vida e da morte, te entrego a vida de minha irm� e de toda a minha fam�lia.� Antes de terminar minha ora��o, o Senhor colocou no meu cora��o: �Cuide dos meus que eu cuido dos seus�. O meu cora��o se encheu de uma paz t�o grande, que a �nica coisa eu pude fazer foi agradecer a Deus e serviLo, terminei de arrumar minhas coisas e segui para o Acamp�s.]
[TRANSLATION TO CONTINUE HERE!]
No final da noite do s�bado para o domingo, minha m�e me liga para dizer que minha irm� estava entrando para a sala de parto, na hora eu rezei uma Ave Maria, clamei � Jesus a presen�a de N. Senhora e de Santa Gianna, e fui fechar o caixa do dia. Rsrsrs... No in�cio minha m�e me liga para dizer que Lunna tinha acabado de nascer e que as duas estavam bem. Meu cora��o so conseguia louvar e bendizer a Deus.
No domingo quando cheguei em Salvador, liguei para minha m�e para saber como elas estavam e minha me disse assim: �minha filha sua irm� viveu um milagre.� Eu perguntei: Como assim?�. Ela disse: �Sua irma teve um sangramento pela manh� e Beto (esposo de Amanda) me ligou sem saber o que fazer, eu mandei ele lev�la para o m�dico e eu fui encontr�los. Ela foi atendida por uma m�dica que fez os exames iniciais e nos pediu autoriza��o para realizar o parto, como Amanda tava com o parto ces�rea agendado para o dia 30 de Janeiro, ela pediu a m�dica que entrasse em contato com o seu m�dico; a m�dica atendeu o seu pedido e disse: �caso eu n�o consiga falar com seu ele, voc� mim autoriza a realizar o seu parto?�. Amanda disse que sim. Minutos depois a m�dica retorna, pois oi celular do m�dico estava dando caixa e assim foi autorizada a realiza��o da cesariana.
Quando a m�dica abriu a barriga de Amanda a crian�a j� tinha defecado h� mais ou menos dois dias e n�o sabia como elas estavam vivas, mas que provavelmente mais um dia elas morreriam de infec��o generalizada. De acordo com relatos de Amanda foi o maior correcorre para retirar a crian�a, lev�la para verificar se tinha engolido o l�quido e se algum �rg�o de Amanda teria sido afetado, mas nada foi atingido, nem em Amanda, nem em Lunna. Quando a m�dica limpo Amanda, fechou, ela trouxe a menina e disse a ela, voc� viveu um milagre e contou o que tinha acontecido.� Eu comecei a chorar, pois a fidelidade de Deus � impressionante..� Cuide dos meus que eu cuido dos teus!�. Louvado seja Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo!
Minha irm� � Protestante quando eu contei para minha m�e e eu disse: �Amanda n�o � chamada a acreditar, mas eu sou chamada a testemunha� e minha m�e acolheu. No dia seguinte fiquei ansiosa por conhecer mais da vida de Santa Gianna e descobri que no dia 22 de Janeiro de 1937 a irm� mais velha de Santa Gianna, Am�lia, tinha falecido. Em Deus nada � coincid�ncia tudo � provid�ncia para Honra e Gl�ria do Senhor.
Assim, em fevereiro fui conhecer minha sobrinha e tive a oportunidade de testemunhar para minha irm� o que tinha acontecido e com os olhos cheios de l�grimas ela me disse: �Agora eu sei o porqu� diante da gravidade do problema, foi um parto t�o tranq�ilo. Agora eu entendo porque o anestesista ficava o tempo todo me questionando e a sua surpresa quando eu dizia que n�o estava sentindo nada, hoje eu sei o motivo do coment�rio da m�dica quando me disse que eu tinha vivido um milagre!�.
Meu cora��o parecia que ia sair pela boca de tanta alegria e louvor a Deus, com a mesma emo��o hoje testemunho para voc�s os meus dois milagre Amanda Mary e Lunna que fez 9 meses.
Obs: Os dois filhos de minha irma, Icaro e Lunna.
Jesus muito obrigada!!!
N. Senhora rogai por n�s que recorremos a V�s!
Santa Gianna intercedei por n�s!
Am�m!!! Am�m!!! Am�m!!!
[Beautiful photo attached]
By: Priscilla, BRAZIL, October 30, 2012
Testimony 107
BABY WITH OMPHALOCELE Gianna Elizabeth M....
Medical ProLife issues in the abstract are one thing, but when they become real and personal they are more than traumatic. It is always good to remember that the medical community does not have the last say in life issues. Following is a story that show the tremendous power and love of God when we turn to Him in prayer. GIANNA ELIZABETH M: Dan M turned 21 the day before his wedding to Kaite P. in January 2010. Before they celebrated their first anniversary they were expecting their first child. "“I remember getting out of work early",’ Kaite recalled, ‘"waving excitedly to everyone as I left to go to our first ultrasound appointment". Dan met me at the doctor’s office; we both were full of smiles. The test seemed to be going fine, when suddenly the technician announced that she wanted to run the images by the doctor. Having worked as a medical assistant I knew that I often used the same line to keep a patient calm when something appeared wrong. Immediately I looked at Dan and said ‘I think something’'s wrong.’ Dan assured me not to worry, but I wasn'’t convinced. It seemed like an eternity before the door finally reopened and a doctor appeared. After scrutinizing the images he turned to us and began, "‘I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.’" At that moment time stood still. He then explained to us that our baby had an OMPHALOCELE. I remember being so confused as he explained that the baby'’s stomach, liver, intestines and spleen were growing in a sac OUTSIDE OF ITS BODY. I remember not feeling anything but shock. I could hear the nervousness in Dan'’s voice as he asked different questions. Finally he asked the doctor if the baby would live, and the doctor replied, "‘in some cases the baby will survive and we won'’t know much until the baby progresses." "Some couples might decide that they can'’t go through the pregnancy and might consider termination and I just want to give you that option".’ I think before he could even finish that sentence I blurted out, "‘That'’s not even an option".’ He made some comment ‘that it has to be on record that I gave you the option.’ Before he took more images of the baby I excused myself. In the bathroom fighting back tears, my heart was racing and it felt hard to breathe and as I looked around wondering what to do and I remember hearing my motherinlaw’s voice saying, "‘say Hail Marys"’ and right there in the bathroom I prayed a Hail Mary after Hail Mary. I told Our Lady that I needed her help and asked her to be with me. The tears ceased at that moment and I walked bravely back into the room. For the remainder of the visit I just kept saying Hail Marys. I have never felt Our Lady as close as I did that horrific day. There were many tears that night, but Dan and I found comfort in prayer and after we entered our apartment we hit the floor on our knees and began to pray. It was a very difficult thing to say that you wanted whatever God’'s Will was, but to actually feel that and believe it was a totally different story. In my mind I wanted to surrender to God, but in my heart I didn'’t want my baby to die. We immediately started a novena to Saint Gerard, storming Heaven for a miracle. We could never have imagined then how many people were praying for our little girl. People from around the whole world, people we didn'’t even know. Each day was a little bit easier and little did I realize, God’'s grace was moving within us. After reading the story of Saint Gianna Molla we decided to name our little girl after her. Saint Gianna gave me so much comfort and I often would close my eyes and ask for her help to total surrender to God’'s will as she did. This was a huge turning point for me. Thanks to all the prayers, things began to look better even before she was born. The doctors ruled out chromosomal abnormality and then the large hole in her heart that they predicted would require surgery disappeared and the enlarged kidney began to look normal. I remember people talking to me with a sad look in their eyes, wondering how we could go through something like this, remarking that they could have never done it. I would respond that God knew what He was doing and that we were honored that He felt we were strong enough to go through such a difficult thing and if Jesus decided to take her after we baptized her, then we felt had done our duty as parents. That thought that we would have a little saint in Heaven gave us such peace. On March 31, 2011 we drove into Boston. The day had finally come for Gianna’'s birthday! We said the last prayers of our novena and headed to the hospital for a scheduled Csection. We prayed a rosary on our way that everything would go smoothly and that we would be resigned to whatever God willed. Dan and I both remember feeling such peace that day and said it was the grace of God Who was watching over us. Gianna was born at 2:09 p.m. and Dan was able to baptize her before they took her off to the NICU at Boston Children'’s Hospital. One of the NICU nurses recently told us that when she saw Gianna that first night she went home and said, "‘That Omphalocele is going to burst by tomorrow, guaranteed".’ It didn'’t. She was so stable that they took her breathing tube out after the first day and although her condition was still precarious she was in our arms shortly after. They had originally told me I wouldn'’t be able to hold her for a month. She stayed in the NICU for a couple of weeks. When they transferred her to a regular room we stayed with her the next four weeks. Finally at six weeks we took her home. Dan and I would do daily dressing changes to keep the Omphalocele clean and intact, trying to reduce it’s size. If this worked, the first plan was for Gianna to have her final surgery when she was a year old. Unfortunately this method wasn'’t working and complications would soon begin if it kept growing so we decided to go with the second option, which was a series of surgeries to push everything back into her body. On August 8 we were admitted back to Children'’s Hospital in Boston. Gianna spent several weeks in the ICU intubated and paralyzed as they began the procedure. In three weeks a second surgery brought her closer to the goal. For the next three months, Dan and I stayed with her in Boston. The Devil would try at times to make us weary and lose hope, but prayers helped us not to get discouraged. We discovered that the hospital had a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reposed and we would pray our rosary there almost every night. During the day I would make frequent visits to Our Lord and would receive strength and reassurance from Him. On September 29, 2011, Gianna was scheduled for her final surgery. We felt that same inner peace the day of Gianna'’s surgery as we had the day she was born. Her surgery went beautifully and I will never forget the smiling faces of her two surgeons as they came to greet us. They hugged us and said, "‘This is the best way to end our week!"’ Gianna fought a couple of infections after her surgery and had some breathing issues at night that required oxygen. But we were sent home on November 4, 2011, with a normal baby, oxygen for nighttime, a feeding tube, and a schedule to wean her off her narcotics. A month later Gianna was breathing and eating on her own and off all medications. ‘Gianna is a normal baby,’ the surgeon told me at her last visit, ‘treat her like a normal baby.’ She is progressing quickly and making up for lost time. She sits, rolls and crawls on the floor, babbles, laughs and smiles, and will grow up just like any other little girl. The odds of being born with a giant Omphalocele are 1 in 10,000. Nine of ten patients who die from Omphalocele die either from major cardiac or chromosomal disease. Gianna is a miracle. Never underestimate the power of prayer and faith. Gianna is living proof that God answers prayer and He has the final say. Taking her life for my convenience was never an ‘option’.”
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession
By: Kaitlin M., Hudson, NEW HAMPSHIRE, February 17, 2012
Testimony 108
TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND TEN YEARS OF INFERTILITY: The Story of Don & Heather Welch and their son, Dalton Patrick
After ten years of marriage and ten years of infertility, my husband Don and I were tired and brokenhearted. Though it was certainly a decade of great trial, our faith remained firm and I devoted my time, talent and treasure to my church, even going to work for the Diocese of Wichita Office of Communications in 2003.
The following year of 2004 marked the firstever reunion of the Handmaids of Mary, a highschool group of young women facilitated by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who taught in the diocese, and of which I had belonged during my time at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. I was on the planning committee for the event and we had much to plan including a visit from the Society of St. Gianna and Jim Buffler, who we lovingly referred to as "Giannaman". I was unsure how effective I would be as a volunteer for the event, because five days before I had had sinus surgery and was still in great pain.
One of my roles was to ensure transportation for Jim during his time in Wichita by chauffeuring him to scheduled appearances. I recall my hands shaking as I helped to load the relics in my fast, red car (later, Jim would remark that St. Gianna, too, liked driving fast, which I was tickled to hear) before and after each presentation. I remember thinking that I could not ride around chauffeuring the relics of a great saint, and not be blessed somehow! Jim and I made small talk during our drives, but I never mentioned my current trials. Somehow, it just came up. Jim asked me if I had children and I answered simply, "No, and we have not been able to have them for ten years."
The day of the Handmaid reunion was beautiful and sunny and we had a wonderful time celebrating with Mass and cake and many, many laughs! When it came time for veneration of the relics I quietly sat in the corner, praying and observing. Some women cried, others smiled and still others furrowed their brows with eyes tightly shut in deep thought and meditation. When it was my turn I immediately put the glove to my wedding band because Jim had mentioned it as a way to ask intercession for my marriage. I prayed simply. Then, not even thinking really, I lowered the glove to my belly. I felt a great warmth. I state it simply as fact. I can't say how hot it was or how long the warmth lasted, and I have never dwelt upon this aspect. It is simply a truth that I did indeed feel a warm glove through my dress. That was it. I thought nothing more of it, and I did not touch the glove again during Jim's visit.
One of our evening stops was a presentation at St. Peter Parish in Schulte, just to the south of Wichita. As my beloved parish of eight years, I was anxious for Jim to meet my friends whom I had made sure knew about the presentation. Three of us, Kristie Z., Christie P., and I stayed until the rest of the group had heard Jim speak and venerated the relics. Kristie then led the three of us in prayer. We made a circle, held hands and talked to St. Gianna like she was our mother. I'm not the touchyfeely type, so I remember the moment distinctly because I was quickly crying. The funny thing was I never once prayed for myself in that circle. I wanted so badly for the prayers of my two dear friends to be heard.
Five weeks later I went to my family doctor after I had a few dizzy spells and was feeling ill. When he told me I was pregnant my mouth hit the floor. There was no other explanation in my book. St. Gianna had interceded for us!
(Incidentally, Kristie too, became pregnant shortly thereafter. The other Christie, a beautiful woman full of love for God, still waits for a child. She is much, much stronger than I and I felt guilty for some time because I truly believe she should have been the one to receive that specific answered prayer. Our loving God really does work in mysterious ways!)
[Chapter 14, Miracles Still Happen, by Jim Buffler. Available in the store on our website]
By: Heather Welch, Wichita, KANSAS, 2004
Testimony 109
BIRTH OF GIANNA CLARE!!!
I must tell you, with great excitement, about the wonderful intercession of St. Gianna in our family. While I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I had decided to name our child Gianna, if we had a girl, because we have always felt very close to her. My pregnancy progressed normally up until the 29th week, when I developed sudden and severe preeclampsia. I was put on bedrest at home, but because I was quickly developing HELP syndrome I was put in the hospital. At exactly 31 weeks gestation, 9 weeks premature, I was put on a monitor in the hospital to check on the baby, once every 8 hours. I had a sonogram in 3D that showed that little Gianna was doing ok and they expected to try bedrest for a few more weeks. When I was on the fetal heart monitor, that afternoon, baby Gianna's heart rate started dropping below 80 beats per minute. This was a dire emergency and a miracle that her distress was caught by the infrequent monitoring. My doctors were very concerned about my kidneys and liver and did not think anything was wrong with our daughter. After a sonogram confirmed that little Gianna was dying, I was rushed into an 4 minute emergency C Section. My doctor stopped my husband in the hall and told him he was not sure that either of us would be okhe didn't know what was wrong. While I was being rushed into surgery, I begged St. Gianna to intercede for us and I pleaded for the strength to give up my life for her if that is what it took for my little girl to live. The NICU staff was waiting to resuscitate her, and the priest who anointed me was waiting outside to baptise her, but with St. Gianna's help that wasn't necessary. Gianna Clare made her dramatic entrance into the world on Feb.24th, 2006. She was a feisty, 3pound miracle. After my husband and I cried for the joy of listening to her cry for the first time, she was whisked off to the NICU and I was still fully awake and alert as they finished the C section. The whole room gave a collective gasp as the doctor delivered my placenta. It was completely riddled with blood clots and infarcs or dead spots. They have no explanation as to how little Gianna received any oxygen in the womb or why she was not a miscarriage or stillborn. We were also told not to expect too much from her, because of the lack of oxygen and her 5 week NICU stay. I am happy to report that our little firecracker is a completely normal, bright, 5 year old who will happily skip off to kindergarten next month. She enjoys Tball, learning Spanish, and swimming. She has a big heart and is especially close to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother. Her first word, at 8 months of age, was "Jesus". We know that God has a special plan for our little Gianna and that Saint Gianna continues to intercede for us. When Gianna was 2 weeks old I had a pulmonary embolism, when a large clot broke off and traveled to my lung. I was told that only 30% of patients survive the initial blood clot. I was in the ICU for a week, while Gianna was in the NICU at the hospital across the street! I was later diagnosed with 4 clotting disorders and I will take blood thinners for the rest of my life. St. Gianna also helped Gianna's little brothers, Joey and Dominic, to make less dramatic entries into the world. With the help of wonderful, specialized, medical care and injectable blood thinners, we continue to have tumultous times with my health. (I had TIA's or small strokes after Joey was born) but through it all our marriage and our witness to the truths of our faith have strengthened. We are constantly reminded of God's great and infinite mercy when we look into Gianna's beautiful brown eyes. We are very aware of the fragility of life and we enjoy everyday of the new life we have been granted through the intercession of St. Gianna!
By: Jenny R., Peoria, ILLINOIS, August 1, 2011
Testimony 110
DIFFICULT PREGNANCY RELICS VISION OF A WOMAN
I attended a church service in Rockaway, New Jersey on January 22, 2011 where St. Gianna's relics were. I was six months pregnant at the time and my baby was given the diagnosis of severe fetal hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain). My husband and I were told to prepare for the worst for our baby; that he may severe neurological issues and medical problems. We were told that many parents in our situation terminate their pregnancy, but that was not an option for me. We sat through the service and listened to all of the miracles where St. Gianna had interceded. When it was time to go up and touch her relics, we did. Nothing significant occurred, but I rubbed one of the cards on my belly praying that we would be given a miracle for our little baby. After the service, my family walked out when I noticed that we were missing my 3 year old son's winter hat, which I knew he was wearing when we walked in as it was freezing out. My husband went back into the church to get his hat, but it was nowhere to be found. We happened to be the last ones out of the church too, so we know no one could have taken it. While my husband was inside, he was greeted by a few members of the society, who were cleaning up. He explained our situation and the members asked if they could pray with us. My husband came out and got us and we all (myself, my son, and my mother) went back inside where we all prayed in a circle. I touched St. Gianna's gloves to my stomach and we held the cards as a family while we prayed. We then left the church. A few hours later, my husband and I stopped at the mall to pick up a few quick items. I went to use the ladies room and when I was standing at the sink washing my hands, I could sense that someone was watching me. I looked over and standing there was a woman, who I had never seen before. The woman just stared at me for a few seconds. She then smiled at me and I smiled back. It was a smile like I had never had before...just a warm, genuine smile. I then left the ladies room and walked down the hallway to where my husband was waiting for me. The lady came out of the bathroom and proceeded to walk behind us, a distance back. My husband did not recognize her either. Then, as we turned around again to see her, she just disappeared. It was very strange and to this day I believe that this lady was significant to St. Gianna. Almost as if it was St. Gianna telling me that everything was going to be ok with my unborn child. The months passed and we prepared ourselves for all of the what ifs that could come with our baby. I had to have a csection because the fluid continued to increase in my son's head and the doctors told me that his head would be too big to deliver normally. We prepared for our son to have surgery the day after he was born to have a shunt placed in his brain to drain the fluid and that he would be in the NICU of the hospital for quite some time. All research we did and all of the doctors told us to be prepared for neurological issues. On April 12, 2011, I gave birth to my son Austin. He came into this world healthy and strong. His head was only slightly bigger than it should have been. The doctors examined him and determined that there was no need to rush and do surgery on him. We were told by several doctors that Austin was "not what they expected him to be". He thrived and graduated from the NICU two days after birth and was released from the hospital on the third day with me. He came home and has continued to be healthy and happy. He did end up needing a shunt which he got when he was four weeks old, but again, has continued to do amazing. We have been told by all of his doctors that there does not appear to be any neurological issues and that there is no reason to believe that he will be anything by a normal child. I truly believe that St. Gianna had a hand in the miracle of my son. He has beat all of the odds so far and continues to amaze and bless us everyday!!! You can read all about my St. Gianna experience and see pictures of Austin on my blog: www.miracleinweyville.blogspot.com (St. Gianna experience is described in more detail in the January 23, 2011 posting).
By: Kelly W., Unionville, NEW JERSEY, May 24, 2011
Testimony 111
BRAIN SURGERY 11 YEAR OLD GIRL
Hello! We are parishioners at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA. In October of 2010, one of your people came to our parish for veneration of St. Gianna's relics and we wanted to share with you what our family experienced.
Our now 11 year old daughter, Ashley, was diagnosed with a malformation of the brain in January 2009. (Chiari 1 Malformation) At the time, her symptoms were not debilitating so she was monitored by Dr. Ben Carson at Johns Hopkins Hospital. By the beginning of October 2010, her symptoms were becoming more severe and occurring more often so we called for an appointment with Dr. Carson hoping to change medicine to keep her pain manageable. A few days before the appointment, our family was blessed to hold the gloves St. Gianna wore and we even put the gloves on Ashley's head. At the appointment, Dr. Carson strongly recommended surgery to relieve the pressure in her brain. We always knew this was a possibility, but were not prepared to hear it at that time. When we left the appointment, Ashley said, "I guess St. Gianna wants Dr. Carson to cure me instead."
We were told to call and schedule the surgery and were given the date of December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We know that was not a coincidence! We prayed, said a novena to St. Gianna and waited. On December 7th we met with Dr. Carson and he explained to us the procedure letting us know Ashley's condition was quite pronounced and he would not only have to shave part of the skull, but would actually have to go into the brain. (This is not always required and we were hoping he wouldn't have to do this since it is very risky, but he is the best so we trusted and prayed.) We attended the vigil Mass that night as a family.
Ashley was so brave the day of surgery. She did not take any drugs to help calm her and she even walked into the operating room and hopped onto the operating table by herself! After 3 hours and 50 minutes, Dr. Carson came to talk with us in the waiting room. He told us he didn't have to do the riskiest part because the first part produced better results than he expected. He was genuinely surprised even though he has been doing this type of surgery for over 30 years! Of course, we knew it was the intercession of St. Gianna and the Blessed Mother!
Ashley was in the hospital for 5 days and recovery was difficult. She was on lots of medicine and was taking them quite regularly. Even when we came home, things were still tough and we were concerned. She couldn't sit up for very long and still had trouble walking on her own. We kept praying and 2 days later it was if she just had a stiff neck and that's it! She took pain medication once that day and sat up for almost the entire day. She walked to the bathroom on her own and was just fine!
Ashley has been symptom free since her surgery and Dr. Carson doesn't expect that to change. She now has no restrictions and can do all that any 11 year old can do. Thank you God, our Blessed Mother and Saint Gianna!
God Bless,
Maria and David Cackett
By: Maria and David Cackett, Gainesville, VIRGINIA, May 22, 2011
Testimony 112
ADOPTION
[Editor's Note: The relics of Saint Gianna visited Manassas, Virginia]
Hi everyone,
As you may know we are going to adopt a little girl. We will be going to get her after she is born in October or November, in El Salvador. Because she is such a blessing in our hearts already, and we are eagerly waiting for her to come by knitting hats and blankets and already loving, and by giving her a name. We are going to name her Gianna Francisca after Saint Gianna. We were starting to feel like the day was not going to be anytime soon that our adopted baby would come, but when we prayed over the relics of Saint Gianna something happened, my husband named her that night during prayer ( he didn't even want to think about a name yet , b/c he didn't want us to get our hopes up ), so as I said that night during family prayer, he named our child to be. I cried, I felt like he and I were so moved by God's love and His Holy Spirit. We spoke with El Salvador last night and little Gianna is in her mother's womb, right now.
I ask that I could have your prayers for her sake. That her mother takes good care of her body while she is carrying Gianna, and that we have a safe trip to go get her and carry her home. I know that this is an adoption, but I feel as if I myself am carrying her, I already have a deep love for my Gianna even though she isn't here. So please pray that everything goes according to plan and that we can bring her home and to L.C. soon [homeschooling moms]. Thanks and God Bless also if anyone wants to give away baby items I would like them, I have nothing anymore my last child is about to be seven.
Thanks for Your Prayers,
By: Mary C., Dumfries, VIRGINIA, March 27, 2011
Testimony 113
INFERTILITY
Testimony for graces received through intercession by St. Gianna Beretta Molla
After our daughter was born, we took for granted the fact that her conception happened rather quickly. We thought it would be easy to conceive again and did not give much thought to things like secondary infertility. By the time our daughter's first birthday arrived we knew it was the right time for us to have a second child. Little did we know the journey we were about to take. It would be eight months before we were able to conceive again and, though a little weary from concern; we were elated that God had blessed us with a pregnancy. Soon afterward (at about 7 weeks) we lost our baby, suffering a miscarriage. The loss of this baby was an emotional time that we pray no one will ever have to endure. For the next eighteen months we prayed for hope, guidance and another miracle. We had many discussions around whether or not we should seek infertility help. In the spring of 2010, after much thought and prayer, we made an appointment with a fertility doctor. The appointment was still a few weeks away and I had faith that God would bless us somehow before that appointment. In May of 2010 my mother asked me to accompany her to the St. Gianna Shrine in Warminster. She knew of St. Gianna’s intercession for those with trouble conceiving and suggested I come with her to venerate the gloves. We visited the shrine on the evening that St. Gianna’s son, Pierluigi, was visiting from Italy. After the Mass I went to the gloves. As I knelt in front of the gloves I was so overcome with emotion that I could only nod when the woman presenting them asked me if I was praying for something special. She then asked if it was pregnancy I was praying for and I responded yes. She told me to take a holy card that had been touched to the gloves and place it on my belly everyday and say the prayer. She also told me to make sure I come back and tell the shrine when I am pregnant, because St. Gianna almost always has favorable responses to those asking for a baby. I left with a new feeling of hope. Every day I prayed and placed the card on my belly. Five weeks later I found out I was pregnant. My husband and I eagerly cancelled our appointment with the fertility doctors. I am now 26 weeks pregnant and so far have had a healthy, wonderful pregnancy. There is no doubt that St. Gianna’s intercession is the reason for this child.
By: Donna N., Perkasie, PENNSYLVANIA, November 23, 2010
Testimony 114
TREMENDOUS BLESSINGS AND PROFOUND GRATITUDE!
I have written an earlier testimony regarding being 15 weeks pregnant with twin girls and being diagnosed with Stage II invasive breast cancer. [My husband and I had tried to have children for 12 years. We prayed to St. Gianna and visited the shrine, and I laid her glove on my stomach. We then found out that I was pregnant with twins!!] With the intercession of St. Gianna, I was able to successfully complete 3 rounds of chemotherapy with the babies inside of me. The twin girls, Giavanna and Gillian, were born in June 2008 HEALTHY and happy! This was all due to the intercessions of St. Gianna. Also, Gillian did not pass 4 hearing tests in her left ear. We brought her to the St. Gianna shrine in Warminster, PA, and I placed a glove on Gillian's left ear. Three days later, Gilli received a clean bill of health with her hearing. Truly a miracle! This past summer (May of 2010), I had a pounding headache. I went to the emergency room and found out through a CAT scan that I had blood on the brain. I had suffered a stroke, and a brain hemorrhage as a result of the blood clot in my brain. This all happened as a result of the anticancer drug that I was prescribed. As I laid in the emergency room and the doctor was explaining that I would need to be immediately transferred to the ICU in a Philadelphia neurological hospital, I felt the presence of St. Gianna. I kept asking her to intercede for me so I would continue to be alive for my twin girls. The doctor informed my husband that I would probably not survive due to these health complications. Throughout the entire experience, I felt St. Gianna with me. As I was in the ICU, many skilled doctors came in to review my chart and give me various "tests" to assess how much the stroke affected my body and abilities. One doctor commented that what he read in the chart was not congruent with the patient he saw. I was able to complete all the tasks he asked me to do. The doctor said that it was "divine intervention" that had SAVED ME from dying from this stroke and brain hemorrhage. I believe it to be from St. Gianna remaining by my side throughout it all and interceding for me. I love St. Gianna with all my heart. Thank you, St. Gianna, for allowing me to still enjoy each and every day with a renewed spirit, and for allowing me to BE WITH MY CHILDREN as their mother. I love you!!
Document Available : My daugher Gillian\'s failed hearing tests and then her positive test! Also, my CAT scan from my stroke/brainhemorrhage/blood clot in brain
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession
By: Jeanie T., Oaks, PENNSYLVANIA, October 20, 2010
Testimony 115
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT CANCELLED!
March 21, 2010: Please intercede for my son S who has been treated for Aplastic Anemia through a bone marrow transplant, but now is starting to falter. Please do not let his bone marrow fail again and direct his doctors to treat him with divine direction.
[prayer cards touched to the gloves of St Gianna were sent to him right away]
March 29, 2010: Just wanted to let you know we received our prayer cards on Saturday, March 27, 2010. I told my son the life story of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. That she loved children so much that she still prays for them now that she is in heaven. I gave him one of the cards and told him to read the prayer on the back. Last Friday [March 19th], the doctors were firm that he would need another bone marrow transplant, but wanted to consult with the bone marrow transplant team and the head of the bone marrow transplants at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After he had blood work today [March 29th], we got a call from his doctor and said that they do not want to do a bone marrow transplant at this time and that they need to watch and wait as it appears that what is going on is HIS BODY IS MAKING ITS OWN CELLS NOW. We have many more months of waiting, praying and concern, but I feel that many people in heaven and earth are helping and praying for my son. [emphasis and dates added by editor]
By: S., Evans, NY March 29, 2010
Testimony 116
CAN A BABY BE BORN AT 22 WEEKS? STORY OF BABY GIANNA!
Email received Oct. 19, 2009: "I would like to inquire about whom I can contact about having a St Gianna relic visit my cousin in the hospital. She is 22 weeks pregnant and her water broke over the weekend and the baby will need to be delivered soon."
[visit of relics to hospital on Oct. 20 and Oct. 25, 2009]
Oct. 26, 2009: "I wanted to update you on Desiree and Baby Gianna. Gianna was born by emergency csection last night. She weighs 1 lb. So far it seems she is doing well. Desiree is doing well too. Gianna has a long road ahead of her so we just continue to pray that she will gain the strength she needs to remain healthy. I attached a picture for you. Feel free to pass this along to anyone else you had praying for them and please continue to pray!"
Jan. 6, 2010: Gianna is doing well. She is 3 lbs 1 oz now. So, she more than tripled her weight since birth! She is breathing on her own most of the time with some oxygen assistance when needed. She is eating well and they recently moved her to a larger bed and started putting real clothes on her. Desiree and Anthony are doing well too. They visit her every day and have high hopes with each day as she gets stronger and stronger.
Feb. 6, 2010: "I just wanted to share the latest on baby Gianna with you. She is now 5 lbs and they just removed her feeding tube yesterday. She is eating well and her parents expect her to be home within the next couple of weeks!"
By: Gina M. of Philadelphia, PA [compiled by Joe Cunningham]
Testimony 117
PREGNANCY
On October 11,2009, a day before my birthday, my husband and I went to the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe in Lacrosse Wisconsin. This is where I saw the big picture of Saint Gianna and learned about her life. Right away I asked her to intercede for me to have a child although I had a doubt then because my husband did not have a biological child from his previous marriage and the doctors told him that he has a fertility problem. But I still asked Saint Gianna for a miracle. I touched her gloves that were venerated there... Now, I am almost 9 weeks pregnant. Thank you so much Saint Gianna... thank you so much my God...
[Editor's note: There is a large painting of St Gianna, 14' x 5' inside the church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Also, there is a pair of gloves of St Gianna obtained by Cardinal Raymond Burke, the founder of that Shrine]
By: Cynthia T. of Madison, Wisconsin Feb. 3, 2010
Testimony 118
SPINA BIFIDA GONE!
Baby Rousseau born with spina bifida healed miraculously. Thank you St. Gianna for your prayers.
By: Paulette K of Ontario, CANADA Jan. 24, 2010
Testimony 119
BABY'S CHEST TUMOR GONE!
In August of 2007, my thenseventeenmonth old daughter, Constance, was diagnosed with a very rare mass or tumor in her chest cavity that was said to be very resistant to treatment. The doctors informed my husband and me that we would be dealing with the growth for many years to come and maybe into Constance's adulthood. A married couple from the Saint Gianna Society visited our home in the Fall of that year and laid Gianna's glove on my sick daughter's chest while we prayed together. Our whole family felt great peace and comfort after the visit and continued with doctor's visits, scans and medication for Constance. I am so happy to say that in this Fall, just two years later, Constance had a normal chest xray and was dismissed for services by her specialist. My husband and I strongly believe that God intervened for us with the help of Saint Gianna and with all the prayers and support we received from our community of faith.
By: Maria H. of Doylestown, PA Jan. 4, 2010
Testimony 120
PREGNANCY AFTER 3 YEARS OF WAITING Philippines
After 3 yrs of infertility and praying to Saint Gianna, I now ask for a healthy pregnancy. I am being tested for immunological problems that lead to miscarriage. Thank you, Saint Gianna, for your intercession in giving me a miracle baby according to my OB. Hope my baby will survive and I will be able to carry him or her to full term without too many complications
By: Rose S., Country of Philippines Dec. 16, 2009
Testimony 121
LUMP IN UTERUS IS GONE!
On Monday, November 23, after having presurgical studies done to undergo a hysteroscopy, as I have had already three months of bleeding and the doctors having seen a lump in my uterus, my work day continued. I went into a church, and without knowing who Saint Gianna was, I left an intention in a notebook, asking her for my health, my children and my marriage…then, I took a leaflet located next to the notebook and I sat down to read it. It was a brief biography of the Saint. When I read that she had had an illness in the uterus, I was moved and felt that God had made me enter there, for her to keep me company in these difficult moments. Afterwards, I went to the office and I bought her medal and the novena, which I started that same day. I commented about this episode that same day with my brotherinlaw, a priest, and my husband. . On Wednesday, the 25th, the day scheduled for the surgical intervention, I went to the doctor’s because they were going to do the last transvaginal echogram. The doctor was present, and they saw that the size of the endometrius had diminished very much in size, that they had almost missed it and that the lump was not visible any longer. Today, Sunday, as I am writing to you, I am continuing with the novena and yesterday I went to Mass on the 28th in honor of Saint Gianna whom I met this week and who is going to accompany me and my family, the rest of my life. THANK YOU, Saint Gianna, for your intercession, and for the grace received. I hope you will find someone to translate this text. its easier for me to write in Spanish. thank you. [Editor’s Note: the 28th refers to the 28th of April, Saint Gianna’s Feastday].
(Translated by Joe Cunningham, President Emeritus, Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla)
El lunes 23 de noviembre, despues de haberme hecho los estudios pre quirurjicos para
someterme a una histeroscopia, ya que habia tenido tres meses de metrorragias y veian un bulto en mi utero, continue mi dia laboral. Pase por una iglesia , y sin saber quien era Sta Juana, deje una intencion en un cuaderno , pidiendo por mi salud, y mis hijos y mi matrimonio..... luego tome una hojita de al lado del cuaderno. y me sente a leerla, era una breve biografia. Cuando lei que ella habia tenido una enfermedad en el utero, me conmovi y senti que Dios me habia hecho entrar alli, para tener una compania en estos momentos dificiles .
. En ese momento fui a la secretaria y compre su medallita y la novena, que ese mismo dia comence.Al momento una gran serenidad me acompaño. Le comente este episodio ese mismo dia a mi cuñado, sacerdote y a mi marido. y al otro dia a mi hija. el miercoles 25 , dia previo a la intervencion, fui al medico porque me iban a hacer una ultima ecografia TV transvaginal El medico estaba presente, y vieron que habia disminuido mucho el tamaño del endometrio , que casi no habian perdidas y que no se veia mas el bulto.. Hoy domingo les escribo, continuo con la novena y ayer fui a la misa del 28 en honor a Sta. Juana, a quien conoci esta semana y se que me va a acompañar a mi y a mi familia , el resto de mi vida. GRACIAS Santa Juana, por tu intercesion, y por la gracia concedida.
By: Gabriela D. of the Country of ARGENTINA, Nov. 29, 2009
Testimony 122
ESTRANGEMENT IN FAMILY, THEN RECONCILIATION!
I was totally bereft. My relationship with my daughter and her husband had deteriorated to the point where we didn't speak and I could not go to their home. They would not let me see the grandchildren with whom I had been very close. I have been away from the Catholic Church for 35 years but had read an article about St. Gianna. I felt forgotten by God ...forgotten by all, but because St. Gianna is the patron saint of families, and she had been a mother and knew the love of a mother's heart,...I prayed to her to intercede on my behalf and to heal all of our hearts. I wasn't sure any reparation was possible but asked St. Gianna to go to my daughter's heart and love her and cleanse her and then to do the same with my heart...and then I wept. Within the week my daughter and I were speaking on the phone and within two weeks I was welcome in their home, sharing meals and loving them and my grandchildren. I have no doubt it was St. Gianna's intercession that restored harmony and love to my family. I am eternally grateful!
By: Carol B., State of Arizona, November 6, 2009
Testimony 123
INFERTILE 5 YEARS 41 YEARS OLD
Thank you St. Gianna for your intercession and miracle. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over 5 years and within months of visiting your shrine and praying we were able to conceive. I am now 5 1/2 months pregnant at 41 years old and the baby is healthy and I have had no problems with the pregnancy. We want to thank you for all your help and support.
By: by Angela N., Belleville, NJ, Nov. 3, 2009
Testimony 124
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)
[Editor's Note: Noelle has a history of PCOS and still has this health problem. It is well known that PCOS can affect a woman's menstrual cycle and deter her ability to bear children. As much as 12% of American women of childbearing age struggle with infertility. The ovum must be able to travel through the fallopian tubes without impediment, and ovulation may not be occurring due to PCOS].
"I went to fertility doctors for five years and didn't get pregnant. Then we heard of St. Gianna and I held her gloves. Next thing I knew, I got pregnant naturally! The doctors were stunned. My pregnancy was expected to end in miscarriage, but I came and venerated the gloves, placing them on my belly each week [ at the Shrine] and had a wonderful pregnancy and a very healthy baby." On Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, 9month old Gracyn visited the Shrine with her parents and both grandmothers.
By: by Noelle and Matthew N. September 2009
Testimony 125
THREE MISCARRIAGES THEN, THREE CHILDREN!
Thank you St. Gianna for answering my prayers. After
the birth of my son in 1997 my husband and I tried to have another child however, I was unsuccessful at carrying another baby to term and ended up having 3 miscarriages. For two years I prayed to St. Gianna to bless me with another child and on February 24, 2003, St. Gianna blessed me with a beautiful little girl. I have been blessed two more times and am now a very blessed mother of 4 children. My daughter had to pick a saint to represent in the annual Saints' parade at her grade school and upon telling her the story of how I prayed that Saint Gianna would send her to me and her father, she chose to represent St.
Gianna at her parade. We also plan on visiting The Shrine of St.
Gianna located at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Warminster. Many
years ago, I was a Confirmation sponsor for my cousin at this very parish! Thank you again St. Gianna for blessing me with four wonderful children!
By: Jenifer N., West Chester, PA October 9, 2009
Testimony 126
PREGNANCY GLOVE WARMTH
I was trying to conceive my first child. I prayed to Saint Gianna and I also held her glove . I felt a warm sensation over my entire abdomen when I did. I have a healthy son who will turn 2 soon.
By: Diana W., Swedesboro, NJ October 8, 2009
Testimony 127
INFERTILITY "GODINCIDENCES" OF DATES
My niece Tricia and her husband Mark had their baby, Anna Mary Collins, baptized on October 4th, 2009. Tricia had been married to Mark since 1998 and had not been able to conceive. I used to feel bad for them. I thought to myself, "Here we are praying for all kinds of people to conceive, why can't we pray for them too." I did tell them in the past that we would pray for them, but I did not make a big deal out of it.
Here is the interesting part: The baby Anna Mary was born on Saint Gianna's feastday April 28th and baptized on her birthday October 4th. Tricia and Mark were married on May 16th, the canonization date of Saint Gianna (but in 1998, not 2004). For a present, I gave them a small medal of St Gianna which they pinned to the baby's dress. One lady got the shivers when we were discussing the dates and "coincidences". What do you think?
(The family photo is in our "Photos" section on this website).
By: Joe Cunningham, President Emeritus, Society of Saint Gianna
Testimony 128
ADOPTION – DOWNS SYNDROME
8/4/09, [after trip to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, LaCrosse, Wisconsin to meet with the son of St Gianna, Mr. Pierluigi Molla]
We just want to deeply thank you for the opportunity to actually touch and smell St. Gianna's black leather gloves while we were attending the special reception for Gianna babies at the Our Lady of Guadeloupe Shrine in LaCrosse, WI on Aug. 2. It moved us beyond words. I felt a desire to share with you a bit more of our story. Feel free to share it with Pierluigi and the family. I sent it to Sister but I did not have a chance to ask her if she was able to share it with him.
Gianna is our soontobeadopted daughter. She is 10 months old and we have been with her since birth. As you will read in the article, it is a wonderful situation with an open adoption that was brought together very divinely with the help of Archbishop Dolan. Gianna is named after St. Gianna because we are very prolife and Archbishop actually introduced her to us when we asked him if he would pray for our fertility. I looked her up, read her book and was in love with her. Mia is after the birthmother's grandmother, and Rose is after St. Therese, my favorite saint. So her name means Gianna (meaning God is gracious), Mia (my), Rose. I love it!
Unfortunately our adoption process has not gone very smoothly with our agency and it is taking a while for a letter to be drafted to be sent to the courts, but we cannot wait until we can call her our daughter! She is a true blessing sent directly to us from God. I believe that we haven't gotten pregnant yet because God was waiting for us to say yes to adoption so he could give us Gianna. Not only is she a blessing in and of herself, but she is special with the gift of Down Syndrome. 8595% of Down syndrome babies are aborted these days. We really have a desire to get our story out to awaken the true blessing of adoption and down syndrome and the reality of abortion. How could anyone imagine having aborted a gorgeous little baby like her, now that you have meet her, you understand how showing her to the world, it could change hearts.
We were featured in our local Archdiocese paper in December 2008 that went out to all of Milwaukee Journal/Sentennial newspaper subscribers as a special Advent insert. (I have attached a copy.) Here is also a link to another article written about us in the New York Times http://www.nypost.com/seven/03022009/news/regionalnews/super_dolan_turned_us_into_a_family_157605.htm . We have also just been in a news story in Stevens Point, WI when our Gianna was the youngest to ever win a gold medal in the Special Olympics. Here is a link to that article:http://www.wsaw.com/sports/headlines/47074622.html
We are inspired by our daughter to get the word out about adoption, abortion and down syndrome. 90% of downs babies are aborted these days. When we decided to adopt, after 4 years of trying for our own child, we were approached within weeks and asked if we would be willing to adopt a down syndrome baby. It was God's providence who brought Gianna's birth mom and us together. Her birthmother's ultrasound doctor actually suggested abortion to her even though she had "no termination" on her chart. It breaks my heart that she might have not had the chance to grace this world with her gorgeous eyes if her mother hadn't been strong and believed in that chance at life for her little one. You see, the birth mom has 5 boys, one of them has severe cerebral palsy that requires 24 hour care. She felt that she would not have the time to give to another special needs child and thought that maybe she was carrying her for someone else. Indeed she was! We share an open adoption and it is working wonderfully. Gianna will grow up to know her 5 brothers, and we have gained a marvelous family.
We were in the hospital when Gianna was first born for one week and have also surpassed an amazing open heart surgery from which she recovered from in 5 days with hardly any medication for pain. We are ready for wherever God will take us next. She is an inspiration. My desire is to show that sweet little face to the world, as she isn't ready to give up the fight for DS.
Thank you so much Mr. Cunningham for spreading the word about this glorious Saint. She will inspire many at a time this country needs it. And thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there and asking us about our story and giving us that tremendous opportunity to venerate St. Gianna's gloves. What an amazing day.
By: Charles, Deb and Gianna Nevsimal, Kewaskum, Wisconsin. 8/4/09
Testimony 129
INFERTILITY PREGNANCY
Thank you St. Gianna for making my dreams come true to be a mother. I have struggled with fertility and upon learning of the Shrine, I came up several times. The day before one of my treatments, I laid the gloves on my stomach 3 times. A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant with triplets. I did lose the one at 9 weeks but the other 2 were going strong. Every trip to the ER during my pregnancy, I had your card with me each time, and even in the delivery/ operating room when I delivered my babies 10 weeks early. My daughter Gianna was born at 2lbs 11 oz and my son Matthew at 3lbs 11 oz. I was told to expect a lot of bad days but every day has been a good one and I was finally able to bring them home after a month. Thank you again for my miracle babies and for making my dreams come true!
By: Nicole, Philadelphia, PA. July 18, 2009
Testimony 130
UTERINE FIBROIDS PREGNANCY
I have a very wonderful story with St. Gianna and would be happy to share it. Two years ago my husband and I conceived our first baby. I chose the name Gianna for a girl. At that time I didn't even know that a St. Gianna existed. I just liked the name. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
Last spring we found out we were pregnant again. We were told by the doctors that that pregnancy too would result in a miscarriage. I was so upset and I didn't even know how to handle my emotions. I just prayed for God to help me through it and to make me strong. It was a couple weeks before Easter and I was on a Catholic website searching for Easter gifts. To my surprise, I stumbled across St. Gianna! I couldn't believe my eyes. After reading about her and finding out that she helps mothers with troubled pregnancies, I knew that God had answered my prayers and sent me a special angel to help me through my troubled time. I then found out that the St. Gianna shrine was about an hour away from my house. I visited the very next weekend with my mother. Unfortunately, that pregnancy could not be saved but I had a new found strength through St. Gianna.
Last summer I started to see a specialist and he informed me that I had a very large fibroid on my uterus that could be preventing me from carrying a baby full term. I remembered St. Gianna and the uterine fibroid that she had. I again, found great strength in her as I went through surgery to have it removed. I pray to St. Gianna daily and have been since she was sent to me. I found out this weekend that I am pregnant again. It is very, very early in my pregnancy so I am not out of the woods yet. I will be visiting the shrine again this weekend and will continue to pray to St. Gianna for this pregnancy to last.
I calculated my due date on the internet and to my surprise it said April 28th, St. Gianna's feast day!!!!
By: Kim & Steve C. of New Castle, Delaware, Aug. 20, 2007
Testimony 131
Cure of Maronite Rite Deacon
On August 7, 2007, a busload of pilgrims from Syracuse, New York arrived at the Shrine of St Gianna. With the 40 pilgrims was their priest, Father Amedeo Guida, and Rev. Mr. Paul Salamy, a deacon of the Maronite rite. Seven years ago, Deacon Salamy's wife died. In her end table he found a holy card of then Blessed Gianna. When the chance to accompany the pilgrims to the new Shrine of St Gianna was presented to him, Deacon Salamy wanted to come. The deacon had been suffering from a medical condition whereby doctors found a nodule growing on his thyroid.
While at the Shrine, the deacon gave a powerful homily during the Mass about the intercession of saints, especially that of St Gianna. The pilgrims were told that theirs was officially the first bus of pilgrims to come to the shrine, but that more and more were anticipated. After the Mass, Deacon Salamy was blessed with the gloves of St Gianna and he became very emotional. The pilgrims departed the church with an excitement that something special had happened to them.
When Deacon Salamy returned to continue his medical treatment, he underwent more tests to determine the size of the nodule. His doctor explained that the nodule was GONE! The first scan showed a nodule, but the second scan showed none. The doctor had no medical explanation, but the deacon spoke of God's intervention through His Saint Gianna. Deacon Salamy has requested 500 more holy cards as he intends to give homilies about St Gianna and his cure at the three neighboring Italian parishes.
Nativity of Our Lord Church in Warminster, PA is blessed to be the only place other than St Gianna's hometown in Italy to have a shrine to her. May Jesus Christ be praised!
By: Deacon Salamy as told to Joe Cunningham
Testimony 132
EXPLANATION OF SECOND MIRACLE OF SAINT GIANNA
28 April 2008
Prepare to be amazed! The 2nd miracle of St. Gianna Molla
— Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
In mid November 1999 a Brazilian woman named Elisabete Comparini Arcolino discovered she was pregnant for the fourth time. An echogram on 30 Nov. showed that the developing child was within a small sac only .8 cm in length and 2.3 cm in diameter. The doctor said that it was doubtful that with such a beginning for the gestation that child would come to term. On 9 December an echo showed the embryo a 1.0 cm in length but also a huge increase in coagulation of blood (blood loss), measuring 5.2 x 3.5 cm. On 19 Dec they found the beating heart of the child, but also a deterioration of the placenta in the lower region of the uterus. A pessimistic prognosis was given. The doctor following the case, Dr. Nadia Bicego Vieitez de Almeida, who had handled Elisabete’s previous pregnancies, said that with the great loss of blood Elisebete would probably spontaneously abort or they would have to do the procedure sooner or later. Contrary to expectations, the child’s heart kept beating and the pregnancy continued. On 11 February 2000 Elisabete realized there was a serious problem and went to the hospital. The echo showed that the gestational sack’s membrane had broken at 16 weeks of gestation and, while the fetus was alive, there was now a total absence of amniotic fluid. The radiologist testified that there was no amniotic liquid to protect the child from exposure to the outside world and from the external pressure of the uterus itself. This meant that both the child and mother were in serious danger of infection, etc. Dr. Bicego recommended termination of the pregnancy. Elisabete was put on a regime of super hydration, 4 l. of phleboclysis (intravenous injection of an isotonic solution of dextrose or other substances) per day. On 15 Feb a new echo showed that there was no significant increase in the volume of amniotic fluid and the volume was insufficient to bring the pregnancy to term. At this point, 15 Feb, the prognosis for the child was precisely zero. Two studies, one in Sao Paolo and one in San Francisco had looked at viability of pregnancies with a ruptured membrane at between 2226 weeks, many more weeks after the case of Elisabete and her child. In the studies in every case examined every fetus was spontaneously aborted within 60 days of the rupture. In virtually all cases, a fetus of 16 weeks would abort with a few days. Dr. Bicega and other doctors told Elisabete that they had to do an abortion to save her life, and gave her some time to make the decision. But Elisabete, as she testified, knew in her heart that she could not do that and that she must try to bring the child to term. When the doctor came for the decision, Elisabete’s husband Carlos Cesar requested that a priest come. He called the parish priest of San Sebastiano, Fr. Ovidio José Alves di Andrade. Dr. Bicega said she would return again in 15 minutes with the documents for their signature approving the abortion. Present at the time Dr. Bicega came was a friend of Elisabete, named Isabel, who heard the exchange about the abortion. Isabel went to the hospital chapel to pray to Mary to help bring some clarity to the situation. There Isabel spent some time in prayer. When she was finished and got up to leave, she saw pass by the door the diocesan Bishop Diogenes Silva Matthes who had come to the hospital to visit another person. Bp. Silva had been celebrant of the wedding of Elisabete and Carlos Cesar at San Sebastiano where they worked as catechists. Isabel told the bishop what was going on and he went to Elisabete’s room and there learned the whole story. The bishop said, “Betinha, we will pray and God will help us†and he asked Dr. Bicega to wait a while longer. Then the bishop left. Shortly after the bishop left Fr. Ovidio arrived. He began to give Elisabete the sacrament of anointing. At that point the bishop returned. He had brought with him a biography of Bl. Gianna Beretta Molla. He said to Elisabete: “Do what Blessed Gianna did, and, if necessary, give your life for the child. I was praying at home and I said to the Blessed in prayer, ‘Now has arrived the opportunity for you to be canonized. Intercede before the Lord for the grace of a miracle and save the life of this little child.†Elisabete had known about Bl. Gianna and how she died and how the first miracle for her cause was for a woman who had terrible complications from a caesarian section. After knowing about Bl. Gianna, Elisabete herself, in her third pregnancy and after two previous caesarian sections, had decided to give birth normally despite the problems that entailed. At that time the same Bishop Silva had given her a holy card of Bl. Gianna. Elisabete was terribly afraid but she asked Bl. Gianna for help and gave birth to a child weighing over 5kg. Therefore, this time, reinforced by past experience and the help of Bl. Gianna and the same bishop, Elisabete told Dr. Bicega she would try to carry the child to term, so long at the child’s heart continued to beat. Various doctors at the hospital expressed their opinion that this was madness. However, Dr. Bicega later testified about that time: “But I, I don’t know if it was by intuition, through my own lack of courage, or if I was drawn by Elisabete’s faith which seemed to have no limit, decided to wait and see what happened.†Elisabete would later testify that for her: “Jesus’ greatest miracle was to change the doctor’s heart. She had been unmovable in her determination to perform abortions, but one day she said to me, ‘Your faith had made me think a great deal. Even I have faith now and so let’s wait for the death of the fetusâ€. Elisabete left the hospital and went to the home of Carlos Cesar’s aunt, Janete Arcolino, who was a nurse. Dr. Bicego lent them the sonar machine so that they could monitor the heart beat of the child and told them to check her temperature and blood pressure every six hours. They continued the super hydration treatments and eventually began a cortisone treatment to prevent problems with the child’s lungs. In the meantime, Fr. Ovidio testified later, the whole community was continuing to invoke Bl. Gianna, continuously asking for a miracle. The parish had been very prolife and every month there was special blessing for women who were with child. Also involved in the prayers to Bl. Gianna was a community of Carmelite sisters who in turn had communicated the request to other convents in Brazil. For her part, Elisabete had a very hard time of things. Despite her faith in God and her past experience, there were times when she was terribly afraid she was going to die with her child. She felt herself sometimes quite abandoned by God and alone. She was worried about what would happen with her other three children if she died. Dr. Bicega followed the pregnancy closely and noted that during the whole time there was no accumulation of amniotic fluid. If Elisabete gained any, as soon as she would move to get up to go to the bathroom, she would again lose it all. When they had reached the 32nd week and when the baby weighed 1.80k, they decided for a caesarian section delivery, effected on 31 May 2000. The newborn daughter, Gianna, was in good shape with the exception of the left foot which was twisted, probably because of compression with the uterus. The problems did not cease there. They found that Elisabete had a wound within a uterine muscle to which the placenta had adhered, thus remaining in place. She had a serious hemorrhage and her lungs collapsed and wound up in intensive care for three days. As part of her treatment Dr. Bicega wanted to interdict her cycle with a kind of false menopause, which would result also in Elisabete not being able to lactate, but Elisabete said she did want to do that. The newborn was sent home on 17 June weighing 1.960kg. Later a surgical operation and therapy corrected the twisted foot. In July 2001 a pediatrician Dr. Maria Engracia Ribeiro examined the child completely and found her to be perfectly normal and healthy, intelligent and lively, with the strong personality. Another check on 17 January 2002 found no problems in any of the child’s development, with no immune or respiratory problems and was, for her age, in perfect health. The case of the asserted miracle was studied by the “Consulta Medica†of the Congregation for Causes of Saints on 10 April 2003 who determined that despite the severe prognosis for the fetus and the mother as the result of the total loss of amniotic fluid at the 16th week, and despite medical treatment inadequate for such a grave situation, the positive outcome of the pregnancy and health of mother and child were unexplainable in medical terms. The decree super miraculo was promulgated by the Congregation in the presence of Pope John Paul II on 20 December 2003. Since Gianna Beretta Molla had been beatified on 24 April 1994, her canonization was celebrated on 16 May 2004.
By: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf explains SECOND MIRACLE
Testimony 133
ANOTHER BABY GIANNA!
Through your prayers and the intercession of St. Gianna, I delivered a healthy baby girl named Gianna Maria in December 2008, and also for answered prayers to help a sisterinlaw to conceive a baby, she is now expecting!
By: Dede from State of Oregon, July 7, 2009
Testimony 134
CHEMOTHERAPY AND SURGERY WHILE PREGNANT/HEARING TEST
I have 2 testimonies: First, while I was 15 weeks pregnant with my twins, I dropped something down my shirt and found a lump in my right breast. After going to two ob/gyns, they told me it was "nothing" and "normal". However, deep down I knew that it wasn't, so I pressed the issue and got the necessary tests, and it turned out to be invasive breast cancer. I had to undergo 3 chemotherapy treatments and one surgery with my twin girls still inside of me. I delivered my twins on June 4, 2008 (at 30 weeks) and they were PERFECT a little small, but they even did not need any oxygen in the NICU!! I had visited the shrine to talk and ask St. Gianna before I got pregnant if she would interdcede for me, and I told her I would name a daughter after her. My one daughter's name is Giavanna, after St. Gianna. My second testimony has to do with my other daughter, Gilli. From her first hearing test, she did not pass in her left ear. For the next four, she still was not passing the tests. We went to see St. Gianna at the shrine and put the glove next to Gilli's left ear. Three days later, she got a clean bill of health and she could now hear out of that ear. St. Gianna has been there so much for me, and I cannot thank her enough.
By: Jeanie, June 23, 2009
Testimony 135
ADDICTION TO COCAINE
In January 2008 I began asking St. Gianna to intercede for my 42 year old daughter Angela who has been addicted to crack cocaine for 20+ years. We have also seen each other approx 3 times during that period. I asked St. Gianna\'s help because she is a mother and also a doctor and I believed she could help Angela come off the drugs and be reunited with her family. Today Angela is 7+ months drug free. She is in contact with her family almost daily. She is reading her Bible and other Christian books regarding the Eucharist and living a chaste life. She is also attending daily Mass. She tells anyone who would listen the wonders that God has done for her. Today I am having a Mass said in honour of St. Gianna for this great favour she obtained for us.
By: grateful mother from Canada. June 9, 2009
Testimony 136
PREGNANT LADY WITH BLEEDING PROBLEM PHILIPPINES
"DEAR MOTHER ANGELICA,
GREETINGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES!
MY HUSBAND SENT AN EMAIL FOR ME TO YOU WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN SOME MONTHS AGO, AND LIKE HE SAID WE NAMED HER GIANNA ANGELICA. ...BLESSED GIANNA DID A "BIG" MIRACLE FOR ME PERSONALLY. I WAS WATCHING [MOTHER ANGELICA LIVE WITH HER GUEST JOSEPH W. CUNNINGHAM] WHEN I HAD ONE OF MY BLEEDING EPISODES WHILE PREGNANT WITH GIANNA. I BEGGED FOR HER TO HELP ME BRING MY BABY INTO THIS WORLD SAFELY AND PROMISED I WOULD NAME HER GIANNA...I NEVER HAD BLEEDING AFTER THAT DAY!
MY DAUGHTER IS NOW ALMOST THREE MONTHS OLD AND IS MILD MANNERED, SHE SELDOM FUSSES. I ALSO NAMED HER AFTER YOU BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND I ARE AVID FANS...
I ONLY ASK THAT YOU AND YOUR SISTERS WILL PRAY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES IN THE PHILIPPINES, WE ARE AS BELEAGUERED HERE AS ANY FAMILY IN THE U.S. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS."
By: Sent by EWTN as result of TV program of October 13, 1999.
Testimony 137
TEENAGER WITH SUSPECTED LYMPHOMA
GEORGE H., A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, KNOWS A STUDENT, E.B., WHO EXCELS IN THREE SPORTS. RECENTLY, GEORGE MET THE BOY'S AUNT, A SISTER OF SAINT JOSEPH, WHO LOVES HER NEPHEW AND WHO TOLD GEORGE THAT THE BOY HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHOMA, A FATAL FORM OF CANCER. THE DOCTORS HAD SAID THAT THEY WERE 90% SURE OF THIS DIAGNOSIS. WHEN GEORGE MET THE RELIGIOUS SISTER, HE DID NOT HAVE A HOLY CARD OF BLESSED GIANNA WITH HIM. MUCH LATER IN THE DAY, A SATURDAY, GEORGE ATTENDED THE 5:00 PM MASS AND ENCOUNTERED THE NUN AGAIN. THIS TIME GEORGE WAS CARRYING THE HOLY CARDS. HE GAVE HER ONE AND TOLD HER THAT BLESSED GIANNA IS A POWERFUL INTERCESSOR.
NOT LONG AFTERWARDS, THE DOCTORS BEGAN BACKING OFF THEIR DIAGNOSIS. E.B. HAS A RARE FUNGUS WHICH IS EASILY TREATABLE! GEORGE WAS VERY EXCITED TO RELATE THIS STORY OF THE FAVOR RECEIVED THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF BLESSED GIANNA.
By: George H. of Springfield, Montgomery County, PA. Feb. 9, 1999.
Testimony 138
DIAPHRAGM PUSHING BABY'S HEART AND LUNGS
ANN, MICHAEL'S WIFE, WAS PREGNANT WITH TWIN SONS. DURING A ROUTINE ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION, THE DOCTORS FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE HEART OF THE ONE, NICHOLAS. THE DIAPHRAGM HAD GROWN INTO THE CHEST AREA, AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LUNGS. THE HEART WAS PUSHED TO ONE SIDE ALSO, THE OTHER TWIN, PAUL, SEEMED TO BE FINE. THE DOCTORS ADVISED A CAESARIAN SECTION AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME AND IMMEDIATE SURGERY ON NICHOLAS. THE DOCTOR IS A RENOWN SURGEON WHO HAD TREATED THE BABY OF KAREN GARVER SANTORUM, THE WIFE OF [THEN] SENATOR RICK SANTORUM OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE CAESARIAN SECTION TOOK PLACE AROUND CHRISTMAS 1998. PAUL WAS BORN AND SEEMED OKAY. NICHOLAS HAD A SHUNTING OR DISPLACEMENT OF HIS HEART. MICHAEL, THE FATHER, HAD WRITTEN TO EVERY ACQUAINTANCE, BEGGING THEM TO PRAY A NOVENA TO BLESSED GIANNA. OUR SOCIETY LENT THE COUPLE A RELIC OF BLESSED GIANNA CONTAINED IN A LOCKET. AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA WHERE THE CHILDREN WERE BORN, MICHAEL TAPED THE RELIC OF BLESSED GIANNA TO THE BED WHERE NICHOLAS LAY ALONG WITH THE HOLY CARDS. MICHAEL KEPT REPEATING, "GIANNA, SAVE MY SONS".
THE PEDIATRICIAN ADVISED THE COUPLE THAT SHUNTING OF THE HEART IS A MAJOR PROBLEMMOST BABIES DO NOT SURVIVE THE CONDITION.
DURING THE FIRST NIGHT NICHOLAS ALMOST DIED SEVERAL TIMES.
AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE SURGERY TOOK PLACE. ONE OF THE THREE SERIOUS SCENARIOS INVOLVED DRAINING ALL THE BLOOD FROM NICHOLAS. THE SURGERY WAS A CLASSIC TEXTBOOKTYPE SURGERY. THE FAMOUS DOCTOR WAS SO DELIGHTED THAT HE HUGGED THE CLOSEST NURSE NEARBY.
NICHOLAS WAS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MINIMUM OF 60 DAYS WITH A FOLLOWUP VISIT AT SIX MONTHS. HE WAS GIVEN DOPAMINE WHICH SWELLED HIS BODY. HE WAS EXPECTED TO GET OFF THE DRUG IN A WEEK.
CONTRARY TO ALL EXPECTATIONS, NICHOLAS CAME OFF THE DRUG IN ONE HOUR! DOCTORS COULD NOT BELIEVE THE RAPID RECOVERY HE WAS MAKING AND INVITED OTHER PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN WERE FACING THE SAME CONDITION TO VISIT NICHOLAS. HE WAS DISCHARGED AFTER 15 DAYS WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. ALTHOUGH THEY THOUGHT HE HAD 1 1/3 LUNGS, THEY ADVISED THAT NICHOLAS WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL ACTIVITIES. [but see below re lungs]. ALSO THERE IS A HIGH INCIDENCE OF DEAFNESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION BUT NICHOLAS' HEARING WAS EXCELLENT.
THE OTHER TWIN, PAUL, SEEMED FINE AT FIRST, BUT SOME TIME LATER HE WENT INTO RESPIRATORY ARREST AS HE DEVELOPED A HOLE IN HIS LUNG. THE HOLE HEALED ITSELF AND BOTH BOYS ARE NOW HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS AND FOUR OTHER SIBLINGS."
Editor's Note: Subsequent xrays indicated the presence of two fullyformed and operating lungs!
By: Michael S. of Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. Jan. 18, 1999
Testimony 139
ABORTION PREVENTION
"For the past three weeks I have been praying to Blessed Gianna every day. I met a young woman through the Internet who is 19 and pregnant. Her boyfriend has been pushing her to have an abortion and she finally agreed to go along with it.
Because Blessed Gianna counseled her patients against abortion and because she sacrificed her own life, rather that abort her baby, I figured that she would be a wonderful intercessor for me and my friend during this time.
My friend wavered back and forth on her decision of whether or not to have an abortion for several weeks. I gave her information on fetal development, abortion procedures and abortion alternatives, but still she was afraid to oppose her boyfriend.
At times I came close to despairing. Whenever I would be ready to admit defeat I would pray to Blessed Gianna that my friend would choose life and stand up to her boyfriend. Even in the darkest moments, I always felt aided and comforted by the angels and saints...particularly Blessed Gianna. I told her that if my friend chose life, I would tell everyone of Blessed Gianna's help.
The strange thing is that I was unfamiliar with Blessed Gianna, until a notice about her web site came into my emailbox the day I met my Internet friend! I don't know who sent it to me, but I'm so very glad that they did.
My friend has decided to bring forth and raise her child. Her family now knows about her pregnancy and will be a source of great support to her. Our Lord used me as His instrument and graciously received the prayers of His servant, Blessed Gianna.
If there is anything that I can do to further her canonization, please let me know. I would be delighted to receive a holy card of her image. "
By: Jennifer N. of Canton, Michigan. April 10, 1999
Testimony 140
CONCERNS OF MISCARRYING BABY PHILIPPINES
"FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS ON THE VERGE OF MISCARRYING MY BABY. I HAD HAD A PREVIOUS MISCARRIAGE AND MY HUSBAND AND I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY. MY ELDEST SON, WHO WAS FOUR AT THE TIME, WAS ALSO FERVENTLY PRAYING FOR A BABY SISTER AND WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BE DISAPPOINTED. I WAS BLEEDING AND CONFINED TO BED FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. THROUGHOUT MY CONFINEMENT AND PREGNANCY, I KEPT ON PRAYING TO BLESSED GIANNA WHO HAD BEEN NEWLY BEATIFIED THEN TO PROTECT MY UNBORN CHILD. IN FEBRUARY OF 1995, I GAVE BIRTH TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL WHOM WE NAMED MARIA GIANNA MARGARITA. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE WAS AN ANSWERED PRAYER AND A MIRACLE!
I HAVE LONG WANTED TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF BLESSED GIANNA'S SANCTIFICATION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ME FORWARD MY STORY BECAUSE I CERTAINLY WANT BLESSED GIANNA TO BE ST. GIANNA IN THE NEAR FUTURE."
By: Ria S-L of the Country of Philippines. (from late 1990s)
Testimony 141
AN AMAZING PREGNANCY AND BIRTH!
[Editor's note: This couple had been in contact with us by phone and by email. We truly thought this had been the miracle we had been waiting for. It was not the miracle that led to St Gianna's canonization, but we were ready to fully investigate and authenticate these events.]
"I AM A VERY BLESSED WOMAN. I HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND HAVE ONE ADOPTED SON. MY FIRST CHILD DIED FROM HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME. PRIOR TO TELLING OUR STORY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CERTAIN MEDICAL FACTS ABOUT ME ARE UNDERSTOOD. I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR ME TO BE PREGNANT. MOST DOCTORS WOULD SAY THAT I SHOULD NEVER GET PREGNANT. I HAVE A DIFFERENT VEIN SYSTEM THAN MOST PEOPLE AND MY UTERUS EXPANDING PUTS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THEM AND CAUSES ME TO GO INTO PRETERM LABOR. I ALSO GET BLOOD CLOTS WHENEVER MY ESTROGEN LEVELS ARE ELEVATED CAUSING ME TO NEED TO BE ON BLOOD THINNERS THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE PREGNANCY. IF I WERE TO HAVE A CSECTION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT THROUGH MANY OF MY VEINS THAT SUPPORT MY DIFFERENT ORGANS CAUSING ME SEVERE RISK.
SUNDAY, DEC. 10, 2000
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2000 I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT ON A SUNDAY.
MONDAY, DEC. 11.
MONDAY I WENT TO THE OB TO CONFIRM AND TOLD HIM I WAS HAVING TERRIBLE PAINS IN MY CHEST AND SIDES. BECAUSE OF THESE PAINS I SPENT MOST OF MY DAYS IN BED AND COULD NOT SLEEP WELL. MY OB SENT ME TO SEE AN INTERNIST TO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CHEST AND SIDE PAIN. THE INTERNIST RAN SOME TESTS AND SAID IF THE PAIN DID NOT GET BETTER BY TUESDAY OR GOT WORSE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
TUESDAY DEC. 12.
TUESDAY I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A BLOOD CLOT AT THE ENTRANCE TO MY LIVER. THE DR. IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM HAD RUN A BLOOD TEST TO VERIFY THAT I WAS PREGNANT. THE DR. SAID THAT THE HORMONE LEVEL THAT INDICATES HOW FAR ALONG AND HOW WELL YOUR BABY IS THRIVING WAS SO LOW THAT THE BABY WAS DEAD AND THAT I WOULD MISCARRY SOON.
WEDNESDAY DEC. 13 SATURDAY DEC. 16
IN THE HOSPITAL THE DOCTORS STARTED ME ON HEPARIN TO THIN THE CLOT. THEY WANTED TO DO A CAT SCAN OF MY CHEST DOWN TO MY PELVIS TO DETERMINE IF WHAT THEY WERE SEEING ON THE ULTRASOUND MACHINE WAS A NEW CLOT OR AN OLD ONE.
MY OB AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE BABY WASN'T ALIVE BEFORE WE DID THE TEST BECAUSE IT IS HIGHPOWERED RADIATION THAT WOULD BE PASSING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE BABY. OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK THE DRS. CHECKED MY HORMONE LEVEL. MY HORMONE LEVEL WENT FROM 300 TO 450 AND THEN DOWN TO 100
SUNDAY, DEC. 17
SUNDAY NIGHT I TALKED TO MY OB AND HE SAID THAT WITH A BLOOD HORMONE LEVEL COUNT OF 100 AND MY PREGNANCY BEING 4 WEEKS ALONG THAT THE BABY WAS DEAD. HE SAID I WOULD MISCARRY SOON AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DO THE CAT SCAN NOW.
MONDAY DEC. 18
MONDAY I HAD THE CAT SCAN DONE FROM MY CHEST ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY PELVIS. THE RESULTS CAME BACK THAT I HAD TWO BLOOD CLOTS AT THE ENTRANCE TO MY LIVER. ONE OF THE CLOTS WAS A NEW CLOT WHILE THE SECOND CLOT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN OLD ONE. THEY ALSO SAW ON THE CAT SCAN THAT I HAD A MASS ON ONE OF MY OVARIES AND THEY SAID THAT I MAY HVE EXPERIENCED AN EPTOPIC PREGNANCY. THE DRS. SENT ME HOME ON FRAGMIN SHOTS, WHICH ARE BLOOD THINNERS AND SAID I WOULD MISCARRY SOON.
DURING MY WEEK STAY AT THE HOSPITAL I SAID THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET AND CONTINUED IT THROUGH CHRISTMAS.
MONDAY DEC. 18
I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON MONDAY.
THURSDAY DEC. 21
FLEW TO RHODE ISLAND TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY.
TUESDAY DEC. 26
ONE NIGHT IN RHODE ISLAND I GOT SICK VERY SUDDENLY AND THEN STARTED CRAMPING. A COUPLE HOURS LATER I BEGAN TO BLEED LIGHTLY. THE CRAMPING CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT BUT THE BLEEDING STOPPED.
THE FOLLOWING NIGHT I HAD BAD CRAMPING AGAIN BUT EXPERIENCED NO BLEEDING.
THURSDAY DEC. 28
THE THURSDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS MY FAMILY AND I FLEW HOME. I CALLED MY OB TO INFORM HIM THAT I HAD NOT MISCARRIED. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO COME IN TOMORROW (FRI.) SO I COULD HAVE SOME BLOOD WORK DONE TO SEE WHERE THE HORMONE LEVEL WAS. HE SUSPECTED IT WOULD BE AT 50 OR LOWER AND THAT I WOULD MISCARRY ANY DAY.
FRIDAY DEC. 29
I HAD THE BLOOD TEST DONE ON FRIDAY AND THAT WEEKEND WAS NEW YEAR'S EVE WEEKEND SO EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED ON MONDAY.
JANUARY 2
TUESDAY MORNING I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY OB. HE SAID THAT MY BLOOD TEST CAME BACK AND THE HORMONE LEVEL WAS UP TO 9,400. HE WANTED ME TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO ARLINGTON HOSPITAL TO HAVE A SONOGRAM DONE.
WHEN THE DR. STARTED THE SONOGRAM IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING SIGHT! A LITTLE HEARTBEAT! ACCORDING TO THE SONOGRAM I WAS 6 WEEKS ALONG AND MY BABY WAS ALIVE. EVEN AFTER A CAT SCAN.
THE SONOGRAM DR. SAID MY SONOGRAM LOOKED FINE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY MY BLOOD TEST WAS SO OFF. I TOOK MY SONOGRAM RESULTS TO MY OB RIGHT AFTER MY APPT. AND HE WAS BAFFLED. HE SAID THE NUMBERS DIDN'T ADD UP AND HE KEPT GOING OVER THE CALENDAR LOOKING AT THE DATES AND COUNTING THE WEEKS. HE SAID I COULDN'T HAVE MISCARRIED AND THEN GOT PREGNANT AGAIN BECAUSE THE SONOGRAM SAID I WAS 6 WEEKS AND THE HORMONE LEVEL WAS ON TARGET FOR 6 WEEKS. HE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
JANUARY 3
WEDNESDAY NIGHT I STARTED CRAMPING AND BLEEDING. I BLED MOST OF THE NIGHT.
JANUARY 4
I CALLED MY OB IN THE MORNING AND HE HAD ME COME IN RIGHT AWAY TO BE CHECKED OUT AND HAVE A SONOGRAM DONE. THE SONOGRAM DOCTOR SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BEGINNING OF A MISCARRIAGE AND THAT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO A WEEK I WOULD MISCARRY.
IT WAS AT THIS POINT I was told of Blessed Gianna AND MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED PRAYING TO HER. AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT MY PREGNANCY, THEY TOO STARTED PRAYING TO BLESSED GIANNA FOR MY BABY AND ME. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WERE PRAYING FOR US. IT WAS WHAT GAVE MY HUSBAND AND TWO OTHER CHILDREN STRENGTH.
JANUARY 17
I EXPERIENCE CRAMPING AND BLEEDING DURING THE NIGHT.
JANUARY 18
I CALLED MY OB IN THE MORNING AND HE INSTRUCTED ME AGAIN TO COME IN FOR ANOTHER SONOGRAM. THE SONOGRAM SHOWED THAT MY PLACENTA WAS ENLARGED AND HAD TUMORS ON IT. ALSO, THE PLACENTA HAD TORN AWAY FROM THE UTERUS AND THERE WERE MANY BLOOD CLOTS FOUND. THE DOCTORS SAID I WOULD DEFINITELY MISCARRY ANY DAY NOW B/C THE PLACENTA HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY DETACHED AND THE BABY COULD NOT LIVE LONG LIKE THAT. THE DOCTORS ALSO FELT THAT THE CONTINUOUS CRAMPING WOULD CAUSE ME TO MISCARRY.
ALL OF THAT ASIDE, THE SACK THE BABY WAS GROWING IN WAS STILL MEASURING ONLY SIX WEEKS IN SIZE AND THE BABY WAS NOT MEASURING MUCH MORE THAN THAT EITHER. AT THIS POINT I WAS 8 WEEKS PREGNANT. THE PLACENTA TOOK UP MOST OF THE ROOM IN THE UTERUS AND THE BABY AND THE SACK WERE PUSHED OFF TO A CORNER.
AS TIME WENT BY, I KEPT CRAMPING AND OCCASIONALLY BLEEDING, BUT I NEVER ACTUALLY MISCARRIED. EACH TIME AFTER I HAD A NIGHT OF HEAVY BLEEDING I CAME IN FOR A SONOGRAM TO SEE IF THE BABY WAS STILL ALIVE OR IF I HAD MISCARRIED. YOU COULD SEE ON THE SONOGRAM SCREEN THAT THERE WERE MANY LARGE BLOOD CLOTS BETWEEN THE UTERUS WALL AND THE PLACENTA WHERE THE TEAR HAD TAKEN PLACE. EACH TIME I HAD THE SONOGRAM THERE WERE FEWER AND FEWER BLOOD CLOTS. THE TUMORS REMAINED IN THE PLACENTA AND THE BABY'S SACK STILL MEASURED 6 TO 8 WEEKS IN SIZE AND THE BABY WAS NOT GROWING. ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM THAT THE SONOGRAM REVEALED WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF AMNIOTIC FLUID IN THE SACK.
THE DOCTORS COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE BABY WAS STILL ALIVE FOR MANY REASONS. THE FIRST ONE BEING THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE PLACENTA THAT WAS ACTUALLY STILL ATTACHED WAS NOT ENOUGH TO FEED THE BABY. THE PLACENTA REMAINED ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE UTERUS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. WE CONTINUED TO PRAY DAILY TO BLESSED GIANNA TO INTERCEDE AND SAVE OUR BABY'S LIFE. ON JANUARY 30TH I HAD ANOTHER SONOGRAM PERFORMED. THIS SONOGRAM REVEALED THAT THE PLACENTA HAD COMPLETELY REATTACHED ITSELF TO MY UTERUS. MY SONOGRAM DOCTOR AND MY OB WERE COMPLETELY AMAZED, CLAIMING THAT PLACENTAS DON'T JUST REATTACH.
FEBRUARY 13
I WAS 13 WEEKS PREGNANT AND STILL HAD NOT MISCARRIED. IT HAD BEEN AN INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE UP TO THIS POINT. THE BABY WAS STILL MEASURING 8 WEEKS IN SIZE AND THE SACK MEASURED ONLY 6 WEEKS. THERE WERE ONLY SMALL POCKETS OF AMNIOTIC FLUID IN THE SACK AND MY PLACENTA STILL HAD TUMORS IN IT AND IT CONTINUED TO ENLARGE. MY OB AND THE SONOGRAM DOCTOR DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST FOR ME TO COME BACK IN 3 WEEKS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO MENTALLY STRESSFUL TO KEEP COMING IN FOR SONOGRAMS EVERY WEEK AND SEEING THE BABY ALIVE AND KNOWING IT WAS GOING TO DIE.
MY OB SAT ME DOWN AND EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE BABY DIED I WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE HOSPITAL AND DELIVER THE BABY BECAUSE I WAS SO FAR ALONG. HE THEN SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME TESTS TO SEE IF I HAD CANCER IN MY UTERUS. IN THE END HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHY THE BABY HAD LIVED THIS LONG BUT THAT HE COULD NOT MEDICALLY EXPLAIN IT AND THAT IT WAS A MIRACLE IN ITSELF. HOWEVER, I HAD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THIS BABY WAS GOING TO DIE.
THOSE 3 WEEKS UNTIL MY NEXT SONOGRAM APPOINTMENT I THINK I HURT BLESSED GIANNA'S EAR. I PRAYED TO HER CONSTANTLY. I HAD SUCH GREAT FAITH THAT SHE WOULD INTERCEDE FOR ME. I JUST KEPT TELLING HER TO ASK JESUS TO SAVE MY BABY BUT ONLY IF IT WAS HIS WILL. AND IF IT WAS NOT HIS WILL, TO GIVE MY HUSBAND AND ME GRACES WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH IT.
MARCH 8
I WILL NEVER FORGET MY SONOGRAM ON MARCH 8TH. I WAS 16 WEEKS PREGNANT AND SO ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE BABY. MY HUSBAND CAME WITH ME THAT DAY. WHEN THE SONOGRAM DOCTOR STARTED THE SONOGRAM YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM HAD SEEN A GHOST. THERE ON THE SCREEN WAS MY BABY MEASURING 16 WEEKS IN SIZE AND THE SACK THE BABY LIVES IN WAS MEASURING 14 WEEKS IN SIZE AND THERE WAS LOTS OF WATER. THE BABY WAS JUST MOVING AROUND LIKE THERE WERE NO WORRIES. WHAT A MIRACLE!!! WE ALL COULD NOT STOP CRYING AND LAUGHING WITH JOY. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY HUSBAND AND I WERE SO OVERWHELMED AND WERE JUST IN AWE THAT GOD HAD NOT ONLY LET US WITNESS THIS MIRACLE BUT PARTICIPATE IN IT. BLESSED GIANNA WAS WORKING OVERTIME.
THE SONOGRAM DR. CALLED MY OB RIGHT AWAY AND TOLD HIM HE HAD TO COME ASAP.
APRIL 13
ON GOOD FRIDAY I WAS ATTENDING STATIONS AND VENERATION OF THE CROSS AT SAINT AGNES WHEN MY WATER BROKE. I WAS ONLY 20 1/2 WEEKS PREGNANT AT THIS TIME. I IMMEDIATELY WAS TAKEN TO ARLINGTON HOSPITAL AND WAS ADMITTED. THE DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT AT 20 WEEKS, A BABY IS NOT VIABLE AND THAT I SHOULD GO HOME ON COMPLETE BED REST. THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE BABY WOULD DIE AND THAT IF I SOMEHOW MADE IT TO 23 WEEKS THERE WAS A CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL. I CONTINUED TO PRAY CONSTANTLY TO BLESSED GIANNA TO INTERCEDE TO SAVE MY BABY. I CONTINUED TO GAIN STRENGTH FROM ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN TOLD OF BLESSED GIANNA AND WHO WERE ALSO PRAYING TO HER TO INTERCEDE ON OUR BEHALF.
APRIL 23
WE MADE IT TO 23 WEEKS AND I WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOR REMAINDER OF MY PREGNANCY.
JUNE 6
MY DAUGHTER GIANNA WAS BORN AT 28 1/2 WEEKS WEIGHING 2 LBS AND 7 OZ. GIANNA WAS IMMEDIATELY VENTILATED AND SENT TO THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL. GIANNA WOULD SPEND THE NEXT 6 MONTHS OF HER LIFE IN GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL'S NICU.
WHEN MY PLACENTA WAS SENT FOR TESTING THE RESULTS SAID IT WAS AN ANOMALY. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE TISSUE AND IT LOOKED NOTHING LIKE A REGULAR PLACENTA.
AFTER GIANNA'S BIRTH AND SUBSEQUENT STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE, WE INCORPORATED A SMALL FOR OUR TWO 2 YEAR OLD BOYS TO SAY AFTER THEIR DINNER BLESSING. THE PRAYER WS SIMPLY, "BLESSED GIANNA, PLEASE ASK GOD TO MAKE OUR LITTLE SISTER ALL BETTER". THEY STILL SAY THIS PRAYER AT EVERY MEAL.
***AT THIS POINT, THERE WILL NOT BE MANY DATES MENTIONED BECAUSE ONCE GIANNA WAS BORN IT WAS AN HOURTOHOUR, DAYTODAY EXISTENCE.****
I FOUND OUT MONTHS AFTER GIANNA HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FROM READING HER MEDICAL CHARTS THAT GIANNA'S LIFE WAS VERY TOUCH AND GO THE FIRST FEW DAYS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH HER THE FIRST DAY B/C I WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL, HOWEVER MY HUSBAND DID NOT LEAVE HER SIDE.
DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF HER LIFE SOMETHING WAS JUST NOT RIGHT. THE DOCTORS SAID SOMETHING WAS NOT ADDING UP. THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME OFF OF THE VENTILATOR BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHE WAS NOT SHOWING ALL THE SIGNS THAT IT WAS TIME. MY HUSBAND AND I KEPT ASKING THE DOCTORS TO CHECK OUT HER HEART BECAUSE OF OUR FIRST CHILD'S HEART DISEASE. WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD THAT THE ODDS WERE THAT WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER CHILD SOMEDAY WITH SOME FORM OF HEART CONDITION. EVENTUALLY, THEY DECIDED TO DO AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND FOUND THAT SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER HEART. IT IS CALLED COARCTATION OF THE AORTA.
COARCTATION OF THE AORTA IS THE NARROWING OF THE AORTA. GIANNA'S AORTA BECAME NARROW AT THE LOWER HALF. A PERSON'S OXYGENATED BLOOD IS PUMPED THROUGH THE AORTA TO THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY. WHEN THE AORTA BECOMES NARROW IT IS HARD TO PUMP THE SAME AMOUNT OF BLOOD TO THE LOWER HALF OF THE BOBY THROUGH SUCH A NARROW OPENING. THE RESULT IS VERY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY AND VERY, VERY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY. ALSO, THE HEART IS NOT ABLE TO PUMP OUT EXCESS FLUID CAUSING HER TO NEED MEDICATION TO KEEP HER BODY FREE FROM EXTRA FLUID SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT GO INTO CARDIAC ARREST.
WHEN THE DOCTORS LEARNED THAT GIANNA HAD A HEART CONDITION ALL THE MISSING PIECES FELL INTO PLACE. NOW THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY SHE WAS NOT DOING AS WELL AS SHE SHOULD BE DOING. SINCE HER HEART WAS SO FRAGILE, SHE NEEDED TO STAY ON THE VENTILATOR UNTIL SHE GAINED ENOUGH WEIGHT TO HAVE HER HEART OPERATED ON. BY STAYING ON THE VENTILATOR IT WOULD TAKE PRESSURE OFF OF HER HEART BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORK SO HARD TO BREATHE.
THE CARDIOLOGIST WANTED GIANNA TO WEIGH AT LEAST 4 LBS. BEFORE SHE WAS OPERATED ON TO REPAIR HER AORTA. HOWEVER, GIANNA HAD A VERY HARD TIME GAINING WEIGHT. SHE WAS BORN AT 2 LBS. 7 OZ. AND WAS NOT EVEN 4 LBS WHEN SHE WAS SENT IN JULY 2001 TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA [CHOP] FOR AN EMERGENCY HEART SURGERY.
THE 2 MONTHS LEADING UP TO HER EMERGENCY HEART SURGERY WERE VERY EVENTFUL. GIANNA KEPT EVERYONE ON THEIR TOES. SHE WAS SUCH A DETERMINED LITTLE GIRL THAT WHEN SHE WAS IN THE NICU IN HER INCUBATOR, SHE KEPT CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE INCUBATOR. THEY ALWAYS KEEP THE INCUBATORS AT A SLANT FOR THE BABIES FOR FEEDING PURPOSES. ONE DAY SHE CLIMBED ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND HER HEAD WAS DANGLING OVER THE EDGE ALL THE WHILE PULLING HER VENTILATOR TUBING WITH HER! THE NURSE WHO WAS TAKING CARE OF HER SAID, "THAT WAS IT!" SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIANNA GETTING HURT SO THEY TOOK HER OUT AND PUT HER IN A BIG GIRL'S BED A MONTH OR TWO EARLY BECAUSE SHE WAS SO DETERMINED TO GET OUT. I THINK SHE JUST WANTED A BETTER VIEW OF ALL THE ACTION GOING ON. GIANNA HAD THE TYPICAL PROGRESSIONS AND REGRESSIONS THAT ARE COMMON WITH PREMATURE CHILDREN. THE MAIN THING THAT CAUSED GIANNA'S PROBLEMS WS THE FACT THAT IN ADDITION TO NORMAL PREEMIE STRUGGLES, SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH A HEART CONDITION THAT CONTRIBUTED TO SO MANY OTHER THINGS NOT WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. THE BATTLES WITH EXTREME HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WERE CONSTANT. GIANNA WS ON ABOUT 16 DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS TO TRY AND MAINTAIN A FINE BALANCE.
IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO GIANNA EMERGENCY MEDIVAC TO PHILLY, HER BLOOK PRESSURE INCREASED TO A POINT WHERE MEDICATION WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT. SHE HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF THE CONVENTIONAL VENTILATOR AND PUT ON A JET VENTILATOR TO MAINTAIN EVEN MINIMAL O2 SATURATION LEVELS. THE DOCTORS GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY WASY GIANNA WAS GOING TO SURVIVE WAS TO HAVE HER HEART OPERATED ON. THE WAS MEDIVAC'ED TO CHOP FOR THIS SURGERY. THE FLIGHT TO PHILLY VIA HELICOPTER WAS A VERY ROUGH FLIGHT FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT GIANNA. THE DOCTOR AND NURSE ARRIVED AT CHOP NAUSEOUS AND THE DOCTOR ACTUALLY THREW UP IN FLIGHT. THEY TOLD US THAT AT ONE POINT THEY WERE BOTH SO SICK THAT THEY JUST PLACED GIANNA'S ROSARY ON HER AND PRAYED THAT SHE WOULD BE OK. GIANNA HAD NO PROBLEMS THE ENTIRE FLIGHT.
GIANNA HAD HER SURGERY PERFORME BY THE SAME SURGEON THAT OPERATED ON OUR SON THAT WE LOST. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO WAIT IN THE SAME ROOM THAT WE WERE IN WHEN THE DOCTORS TOLD US OUR SON HAD DIED. THE RESULTS WERE MUCH DIFFERENT THIS TIME AS GIANNA CAME THROUGH FINE. SHE ONLY HAD TO REMAIN IN PHILLY FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE BEING SENT BACK TO GEORGETOWN.
AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF SHOWING GREAT PROGRESS GIANNA BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF A SETBACK. THROUGH AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM IT WAS DETERMINED THAT GIANNA'S COARCTATION OF THE AORTA HAD COME BACK IN FULL FORCE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN EARLY AUGUST. GIANNA CONTINUED TO BATTLE THE ODDS AND WAS ABLE TO COME OFF THE VENTILATOR THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.
THE NEXT HURDLE FOR GIANNA TO GET OVER WAS TO LEARN HOW TO DRINK A BOTTLE. SHE HAD BEEN FED VIA A TUBE FOR THE FIRST MONTHS OF HER LIFE. GIANNA TOOK TO THE BOTTLE FAIRLY WELL AND GAINED ENOUGH WEIGHT THAT THE DOCTORS FELT COMFORTABLE SENDING HER HOME WITH US IN OCTOBER. A LAST MINUTE BOUT WITH PNEUMONIA SET THOSE PLANS BACK. GIANNA FINALLY CAME HOME RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2001. GIANNA WAS SENT HOME WITH 16 HOURS PER DAY OF NURSING CARE, ON 14 DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS, 2 LITERS OF OXYGEN, BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE AND ON OXYGEN AND APNEA MONITORS.
IN DECEMBER 2001 GIANNA HAD AN OUTPATIENT FOLLOWUP VISIT WITH THE CARDIOLOGIST. THE EXAM REVEALED THAT GIANNA DID NOT HAVE STRONG ENOUGH PULSES IN THE LOWER HALF OF HER BODY AND WAS STILL SHOWING EVIDENCE OF A LARGE GRADIENT BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITY BLOOD PRESSURES. THE CARDIOLOGIST SCHEDULED SURGERY FOR JANUARY 15, 2002. HE SAID THAT GIANNA COULD NOT WAIT ANY LONGER FOR HER SECOND HEART SURGERY. THE CARDIOLOGIST HAD BEEN WAITING FOR HER TO GET TO 10 LBS. SO HE COULD PERFORM THE SURGERY. IF SHE WEIGHED LESS THAN 10 LBS. AT THE TIME OF SURGERY SHE RAN A GREATER RISK OF LOSING THE ARTERY IN HER LEG. AT THIS POINT GIANNA WAS A LITTLE OVER 9 LBS. THE CARDIOLOGIST WAS HOPING THAT SHE WOULD BE 10 LBS. BY JANUARY 15TH.
WHEN SHE CAME IN ON JANUARY 8TH FOR HER PROOP VISIT THE CARDIOLOGIST AND THE SURGEON COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING ON THE ECHOCARDIOGRAM. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT JUSTIFY SURGERY AT THIS POINT BECAUSE GIANNA'S HEART HAD TAKEN A TURN FOR THE BETTER AND THE RISKS OF SURGERY FAR OUTWEIGHED THE BENEFITS OF DOING THE SURGERY. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS HER HEART GOT BETTER AND BETTER. ON APRIL 29, 2002 GIANNA HAD ANOTHER FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENT WITH THE CARDIOLOGIST. HE SAID THAT THERE IS NO LONGER ANY EVIDENCE OF ANY COARCTATION OF THE AORTA AND HE DOES NOT NEED TO SEE HER AGAIN FOR 2 YEARS.
AS OF MAY 10, 2003, GIANNA ONLY REQUIRES OXYGEN OCCASIONALLY AT NIGHT AND WE EXPECT HER TO BE OFF IT COMPLETELY BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. SHE IS AS ACTIVE AS ANY OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN AND JUST LAST NIGHT WENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT NOT ON OXYGEN OR BEING HOOKED UP TO THE MONITOR. WE COMPLETELY ATTRIBUTE THE MIRACULOUS EVENT SURROUNDING GIANNA'S DEVELOPMENT IN THE WOMB AND SUBSEQUENT FIGHT TO SURVIVE, TO THE INTERCESSION OF BLESSED GIANNA.
By: Lisa and Paul D. of Virginia. May 10, 2003.
Testimony 142
INFERTILITY NONCATHOLICS
"I WAS HOPING TO GET ANOTHER PRAYER CARD FOR A WOMAN I WORK WITH. LAST MAY, YOUR PRESENTATION OF THE LIFE OF BLESSED GIANNA CAME TO OUR CHURCH, ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA IN WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN. BEFORE THAT TIME, I WAS UNAWARE OF WHO BLESSED GIANNA WAS AND WAS TRULY INSPIRED BY HER STORY. AT THAT TIME, I HAD JUST DISCOVERED THAT 2 OF THE WOMEN I WORKED WITH HAD SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY AND EMOTION IN TRYING TO CONCEIVE AND ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS HAD FAILED. BOTH OF THESE WOMEN ARE IN THE EARLY 30s AND NEITHER OF THEM IS CATHOLIC. I STOOD IN LINE AT OUR CHURCH TO TOUCH THE GLOVE OF BLESSED GIANNA AND ASK FOR HER GUIDANCE AS A MOTHER. THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PRESENTATION TOUCHED TWO OF THE PRAYER CARDS TO THE GLOVES AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOW 3RD CLASS RELICS. I TOOK THE CARDS AND GAVE THEM TO EACH OF THE WOMEN I WORK WITH. I WASN'T EXACTLY SURE HOW THEY WOULD REACT TO THE CARDS AND THE STORY BEHIND THEM, BUT THEY WERE BOTH VERY RECEPTIVE TO THEM, THOUGH PROBABLY A BIT SKEPTICAL. BY THIS TIME, THEY HAD BOTH DECIDED NOT TO UNDERGO THE PROCEDURES AGAIN AS THE FAILURE WAS TOO PAINFUL AND HAD RESIGNED THEMSELVES TO THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. AFTER I GAVE THEM THE CARDS, THE SUBJECT NEVER CAME UP AGAIN.
IN DECEMBER, ONE OF THE WOMEN CAME TO MY DESK, CRYING. SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD FINALLY CONCEIVED AND WERE EXPECTING A BABY THIS AUGUST. SHE IS NOW AT THE END OF A VERY DIFFICULT PREGNANCY, BUT EVERYTHING IS STILL VERY GOOD WITH THE BABY. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD TAKEN THE CARD I GAVE HER TO ALL OF HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND BELIEVES THAT IS THE REASON IT WORKED FOR HER THIS TIME. SHE IS EVEN WEARING A SILVER MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOW AND PRAYS TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER AND TO BLESSED GIANNA.
THE OTHER WOMAN I HAD GIVEN THE CARD TO FOUND OUT, ON THE VERY DAY THAT POPE JOHN PAUL II ELEVATED TO GIANNA TO SAINT [MAY 16, 2004], THAT SHE IS ALSO EXPECTING. HER CHILD IS DUE IN JANUARY. SHE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST HUG WHEN I SAW HER AND SAID THAT SHE ALSO BROUGHT HER CARD TO ALL OF HER APPOINTMENTS WITH HER AND PRAYS THE PRAYER FAITHFULLY. IF HER BABY IS A GIRL, SHE WILL NAME HER AFTER SAINT GIANNA.
I NEED TO GET ANOTHER CARD FOR A DIFFERENT WOMAN I WORK WITH. SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO. THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER A YEAR TO CONCEIVE. SHE ASKED ME FOR A CARD AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE.
ALSO OF SPECIAL INTEREST, MY OWN NIECE HAD BEEN IN THE CHURCH THAT DAY WITH ALL OF US AND NOT TOO LONG AFTERWARD DISCOVERED THAT SHE TOO, WAS EXPECTING. BEING AN UNWED COLLEGE STUDENT, IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HER. SHE PRAYED TO BLESSED GIANNA. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2004 SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY BABY GIRL. GIANNA MARIE IS A BEAUTIFUL 4MONTH OLD ANGEL."
By: Kathy W. from Wyandotte, Michigan. June, 2004
Testimony 143
SEVERE PAIN IN HANDS
"I GIVE THANKS TO BLESSED GIANNA FOR A GREAT FAVOR I RECEIVED THROUGH HIER INTERCESSION TO CHRIST OUR LORD FOR ME.
I HAD VERY SEVERE PAIN IN MY HANDS FOR A LONG TIME. I COULD NOT EVEN FOLD AND MOVE MY FINGERS PROPERLY. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH MY HANDS GIVING ENOUGH STRENGTH TO THE HANDS.
ONE NIGHT I WAS WATCHING MOTHER ANGELICA'S TELEVISION SHOW. THAT NIGHT'S SHOW WAS ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA. MR. CUNNINGHAM WAS SHOWING A PAIR OF GLOVES SHE WAS WEARING. IT TOUCHED MY HEART AND I WAS THINKING OF THOSE GLOVES ALL THE TIME. I WAS THINKING OF WEARING THEM. SINCE THEN EVERY NIGHT WHEN I GO TO BED I PRAYED FOR HER HELP THINKING OF WEARING HER GLOVES IN MY HANDS. I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR AND HE GAVE ME SOME MEDICINE TO APPLY BUT IT DID NOT WORK. ONLY AFTER I STARTED PRAYING TO BLESSED GIANNA FOR HER HELP I WAS GETTING SOME RELIEF AND SINCE THEN I COULD MOVE MY FINGERS AND NOW MY HANDS ARE ALRIGHT. THANK YOU BLESSED GIANNA FOR YOUR HELP... IT IS A MIRACLE TO ME.
I HOPE BLESSED GIANNA WILL DO MORE FAVORS FOR ME. I HAVE FULL FAITH IN HER PRAYER.
By: Metilda J. from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. January 8, 2001.
Testimony 144
H E A D A C H E S
"LAST EVENING WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYING WHILE TOUCHING BLESSED GIANNA'S GLOVES AT OUR CHURCH IN BRISTOL, PA. MY NIECE CATHY HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM VERY SEVERE HEADACHES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. SHE DELIVERED A HEALTHY, HANDSOME BABY BOY ON SEPTEMBER 24 AND 4 WEEKS LATER THE SEVERE HEADACHES STARTED. ALL SHE COULD DO WAS CRY VERY LOUD, SCREAM AND SUFFER. SHE COULD NOT HOLD HER HEAD UP AND SAID SHE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN SUFFER THE PAIN SHE WAS SUFFERING. AN AMBULANCE NEEDED TO BE CALLED AND THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL. SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 8 DAYS AND WAS TESTED FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING SINCE SHE HAD NUMBNESS, PAIN IN HER HEAD, NECK, COULDN'T FUNCTION AT ALL. WITH NARCOTICS SHE WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION FOR SOME OF THE DAY, BUT NEVER LOST THE HEADACHE AND EVERY OTHER DAY HAD SEVERE ATTACKS.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT CATHY CALLED ME THIS MORNING TO SAY SHE FINALLY HAD A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP AND WOKE UP FOR THE FIRST TIME WITHOUT A HEADACHE. SO TODAY, HER HUSBAND TOOK HER 1 YEAR OLD SON TO WATCH A FOOTBALL GAME AND SHE IS HOME ALONE TO HOLD AND ENJOY HER NOW 6 WEEK OLD BABY, RYAN.
I'LL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HER CONTINUED HEALTH THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF BLESSED GIANNA.
MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SICK YESTERDAY. SHE HAD A SORE EYE BEGINNING ON FRIDAY, SORE THROAT, FEVER AND STOMACH PROBLEMS YESTERDAY. AFTER WE RETURNED HOME FROM CHURCH SHE SAID TO ME, "MOMMY, I'M ALL BETTER NOW". SHE DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH THE GLOVE, SHE WAS AFRAID OF THE MYSTERY OF THIS. I TOUCHED THE GLOVE FOR HER AND HELD HER HAND AND ASKED BLESSED GIANNA TO PASS THIS RELIC TO KATE THROUGH ME. "
By: Mary from Bristol, Pennsylvania. 11/10/2002
Testimony 145
7YEAR OLD BOY NO FURTHER NEED TO WEAR AN EYE PATCH
"I ATTEND ST. MARIA GORETTI CHURCH IN HATFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA. MY SON RYAN IS DIAGNOSED WITH 3RD NERVE PALSY, WHICH MEANS HE WAS BORN WITH 2 MUSCLES IN HIS EYELID [NORMAL IS 6 MUSCLES]. WE HAVE PUT A PATCH ON HIS GOOD EYE FORCING HIM TO USE THE BAD EYE SINCE 8 MONTHS OF AGE UP TO NOW. HE IS 7 1/2 YEARS OLD. HIS LAST 2 VISITS WERE JUST OK, THE DR. SAID WE NEED TO PATCH FOR 10 HOURS, USUALLY WE ONLY PATCHED 24 HRS. A DAY. HE ALSO HAD TO GET GLASSES. THIS WAS VERY CRUCIAL BECAUSE THE EYE STOPS DEVELOPING AROUND AGE 7. I WAS AT 10:30 AM MASS ON SEPT 14TH AND WE PUT THE GLOVES OF ST GIANNA ON HIS EYE. I SAID THE PRAYER AT HOME FOR HIS EYE FOR ABOUT 12 WEEKS. OUR LAST VISIT TO THE DR. WAS ON NOV. 10, 2003. SHE WAS VERY EXCITED TO TELL US THAT RYAN HAD 20/30 VISION IN HIS EYE AND HE NO LONGER NEEDED TO BE PATCHED OR WEAR THE GLASSES. MY EYES FILLED UP WITH TEARS, MY HEART AND THOUGHTS IMMEDIATELY WERE DIRECTED TO THE LORD THROUGH BLESSED GIANNA. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR CHURCH ON THAT VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
By: Deana N. of Souderton, Pennsylvania. November, 2003
Testimony 146
PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
[Editor's Note: Dana was a member of the group of pilgrims of the Society of then Blessed Gianna which traveled to Rome for the canonization on May 16, 2004. Here is her note which she wrote on our return to the States].
"ON MAY 17, 2004, I ATTENDED THE CANONIZATION AND PAPAL BLESSING GIVEN FOR ST. GIANNA. I OVERHEARD A WOMAN [LIZ] BEHIND ME SAY THAT IT WAS AMAZING THAT SHE JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN ROME FOR THIS BECAUSE HER PRIEST HAD ADVISED HER TO PRAY FOR ST. GIANNA'S INTERCESSION TO CONCEIVE A CHILD. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND GAVE HER A GIANNA PRAYER CARD. SHE WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN ABACK AND STARTED TO CRY. A WOMAN CLAIRE WAS AT HER SIDE. CLAIRE LATER CAME BACK TO ME AFTER THE SERVICE AND SAID LIZ WAS 47, HAD EXPERIENCED FIVE MISCARRIAGES, WAS LIVING IN THE UK NOW WITH HER HUSBAND BILL. THEIR WEDDING HAD BEEN BLESSED BY THE POPE.
THE DAY BEFORE, AFTER THE CANONIZATION, I HAD MET A COUPLE WHO RUN A GIANNA HOUSE FOR UNWED MOTHERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SLOVAKIA. I TOLD LIZ AND BILL ABOUT THIS AND AGAIN THEY WERE TAKEN ABACK. BILL'S BACKGROUND IS FROM THIS REGION. WE EXCHANGED INFO AND CLAIRE TOLD ME SHE WOULD SEND A BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT. I AM WRITING THIS NOW AS A WITNESS TO A MIRACLE ALREADY IN PROCESS."
By: DANA G. 4.18.2004. ROME, ITALY
Testimony 147
TWINS ONE WITHOUT AMNIOTIC FLUID FOR 2 MONTHS
"I COULDN'T LET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON PASS WITHOUT SENDING YOU AND THE SOCIETY A GREETING WITH THE PHOTOS OF MY TWINS. MANY THANKS TO YOU, YOUR SOCIETY'S PRAYER GROUP AND OUR BLESSED GIANNA, COLE AND MAEVE ARE THRIVING AT HOME. THEY ARE NOW 9 MONTHS OLD AND COLE, WHO YOU MAY RECALL HAD NO AMNIOTIC FLUID FOR 2 MONTHS IN UTERO, IS DOING WELL BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS, COLE'S OXYGEN REQUIREMENT HAS GONE FROM 2.5 LITERS TO JUST UNDER 1/2 LITER. HE IS TAKING ALL OF HIS FEEDS ORALLY AS THE NG TUBE BECAME OBSOLETE. HE IS ROLLING AROUND, ALWAYS THE HAPPY BABY WHO LAUGHS AND BABBLES DESPITE HIS TRACHE AND VENTILATOR SUPPORT. MAEVE IS ENJOYING HIM TREMENDOUSLY AND SHE IS CALM WHEN THEY ARE SIDE BY SIDE. WE FEEL VERY BLESSED BY HIS PROGRESS. I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS TRULY A MIRACLE BUT THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION ON WHY HE'S DOING SO WELL. I THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOUR ASSOCIATES FOR KEEPING US IN YOUR PRAYERS. YOU HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES. HAPPY NEW YEAR! PRAISE GIANNA!"
By: Bill, Keren, Maggie, Cole & Maeve of Sewell, New Jersey. 1/3/2005
Testimony 148
A LONG, FUNNY STORY FROM PUERTO RICO
(BACKGROUND INFO: ON OCT. 13, 1999 JOE CUNNINGHAM, PRESIDENT OF THEN BL. GIANNA SOCIETY WAS A GUEST ON THE TV SHOW, "MOTHER ANGELICA LIVE" ON THE ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK, EWTN TALKING ABOUT GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA)
"A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHILE PICKING UP MY ROOM, I HAD MOTHER ANGELICA'S PROGRAM ON. IT HAD ALREADY STARTED AND SHE WAS INTERVIEWING THIS GENTLEMAN WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE CALLED BLESSED GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEVER HEARD OF HER, I BECAME VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM AND HEARD THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW. WHEN THE PROGRAM FINISHED I HAD ONLY REMEMBERED THAT THIS GENTLEMAN WAS FROM PHILADELPHIA. AFTER THAT AND ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER, MY SECOND DAUGHTER (AGE 26 WITH A BEAUTIFUL 18 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER) CALLED ME WORRIED BECAUSE SHE HAD FELT A LUMP IN THE LOWER PART OF HER BACK AND IT WAS HURTING HER. I OF COURSE ADVISED HER TO GO TO THE DOCTOR WHICH SHE DID. HER DOCTOR SENT HER TO HAVE XRAYS DONE BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF BIG, BUT SHE HOPED IT WOULD BE BENIGN. AS SOON AS SHE TOLD ME THIS AND I DID NOT KNOW THE REASON WHY UNTIL LATER, I IMMEDIATELY REMEMBERED THE LADY THEY HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON MOTHER ANGELICA'S PROGRAM BUT THE ONLY PART OF HER NAME I REMEMBERED WAS MOLLA. I STARTED PRAYING TO HER AND TOLD HER "PLEASE, I DO NOT REMEMBER YOUR WHOLE NAME, BUT I KNOW YOU WERE A MOTHER WHO DIED FOR HER CHILD. PLEASE HELP HEAL MY DAUGHTER FOR SHE HAS THIS LITTLE CHILD TO LIVE FOR." I KEPT PRAYING TO HER EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK. DAYS LATER, MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME THAT THE PAIN WAS HARDLY THERE ANY MORE AND WHEN SHE WENT TO HAVE HER XRAYS DONE, THE DOCTOR TOLD HER THAT HE COULD NOT FEEL ANYTHING AND THAT THERE WAS NO LUMP ON HER BACK. FROM THAT DAY ON I THANKED BLESSED MOLLA AND I HAD PROMISED HER THAT I WOULD FIND HER WHOLE NAME AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE FAVOR I HAD RECEIVED FROM HER.
HERE IN PUERTO RICO I STARTED CALLING EVERY CATHOLIC BOOKSTORE ASKING THEM IF THEY HAD EVER HEARD OF A "BEATA' (AS WE SAY IN SPANISH) MOLLA OR IF THEY WOULD HAVE A LITTLE PRAYER CARD OF HER SO THAT I COULD KNOW MORE ABOUT HER, BUT NOBODY KNEW.
MY BEST FRIEND ONE DAY TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE ME TO A FRIEND OF HERS WHO HAD A HUGE CATHOLIC BOOKSTORE AND THAT IF HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT HER, NOBODY WOULD. WHEN I ENTERED THE BOOKSTORE I IMMEDIATELY ASKED ABOUT HER AND TOLD OF THE FAVOR SHE HAD DONE WITH MY DAUGHTER. THE OWNER SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT A BLESSED MOYA [PRONUNCIATION IN SPANISH OF THE WORD "MOLLA"] AND THAT FRUSTRATED ME EVEN MORE BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO REMEMBER HER WHOLE NAME AGAIN AND LET HER MIRACLE BE KNOWN.
AFTER I FINISHED TALKING WITH THE OWNER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS LADY WHO WAS STANDING THERE HEARD ME SAY THE LAST NAME AND SHE CAME OVER TO ME AND ASKED ME "ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA MOLLA?" MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT, I SCREAMED AT HER AND SAID, "YES, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HER?" THEN SHE TOLD ME THIS AMAZING STORY WHICH I THINK WAS MY SECOND BIGGEST MIRACLE.
SHE SAID THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE, AFTER SHE FINISHED READING HER BIBLE, SHE HAD THIS PRAYER CARD NEXT TO IT WHICH SHE HAD TAKEN FROM A CONVENT HERE IN PUERTO RICO YEARS AGO AND SHE ALWAYS HAD NEXT TO HER BIBLE. THAT NIGHT FOR SOME REASON SHE DECIDED TO PUT IN IN HER PURSE. WHEN SHE HEARD ME ASK ABOUT THIS BLESSED MOLLA, SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. SHE CAME OVER TO ME AND SHE SHOWED ME THE PRAYER CARD OF BLESSED GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA WITH A PICTURE OF HER AND A SMALL STORY OF HER LIFE. SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD KEPT THIS PRAYER CARD FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND FOR SOME REASON THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE DECIDED TO PUT IT IN HER PURSE. AS WE SAY IN SPANISH THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES, BUT GODCIDENCES. SHE SAID THIS WAS A VERIFICATION THAT BLESSED GIANNA HAD INTERCEDED IN THE CURE OF MY DAUGHTER AND I DEFINITELY HAD TO LET IT BE KNOWN. SHE GAVE ME THE PRAYER CARD FOR ME TO KEEP AND TOLD ME "GOD WANTS YOU TO LET HER BE KNOWN HERE IN PUERTO RICO."
By: Lucila from Puerto Rico. June 13, 2000
Testimony 149
S C I A T I C A
MY CHURCH, ST. JOSEPH CHURCH IN GARRETT, INDIANA, HAD SCHEDULED THE RELICS OF BLESSED GIANNA TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE CHURCH FOR THREE DAYS ON OCT. 31 AND NOV. 1 & 2.
MY FAMILY, ED, BRITTANY, CONNOR, TREVOR AND I WENT SATURDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 1, AFTER THE 5 PM MASS TO VENERATE THE RELICS. I HAD TO BE THERE AT 7:30 AM ON SUNDAY MORNING TO PASS OUT BLESSED GIANNA'S PRAYER CARDS. I WANTED TO GO THE NIGHT BEFORE TO VENERATE THE RELICS AND SEE WHAT I WOULD BE DOING THE NEXT MORNING.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN WHO BROUGHT THE RELICS WERE VERY NICE AND TOLD US ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA MOLLA AND GAVE US PRAYER CARDS AND A BROCHURE ON HER LIFE. THERE WAS A PAIR OF GIANNA'S GLOVES THAT WE COULD TOUCH THAT WERE A SECOND CLASS RELIC. THE ONE GENTLEMAN SAID IF THERE WERE ANY SPOTS ON MY BODY THAT WERE AILING, I COULD TOUCH THE GLOVE IN THAT AREA. I SAID THAT I HAD A SCIATIC PROBLEM, AND I TOUCHED THE GLOVE IN THAT AREA OF MY LOWER BACK ON MY RIGHT SIDE. I WAS HOLDING TREVOR ON MY LEFT SIDE AT THE TIME I DID THIS.
AFTER WE ALL TOUCHED THE GLOVES, THE ONE GENTLEMAN SHOWED US THE VESTMENT MADE FROM PART OF BLESSED GIANNA'S WEDDING GOWN THAT OUR PASTOR WORE FOR THE MASSES THAT WEEKEND. HE ALSO TOLD US MANY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA AND SHOWED US A NUMBER OF PICTURES THAT WERE ON DISPLAY. WE THEN VISITED WITH OUR PASTOR A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE LEFT. I REMEMBER THAT WHILE I WAS TALKING WITH OUR PASTOR I NOTICED THAT I WAS FEELING BETTER THAN WHEN I CAME IN CHURCH, AND I WAS EXPERIENCING NO PAIN FROM MY SCIATIC NERVE. I THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE ME THAT I FELT BETTER, SO I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING.
WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH TREVOR, I BEGAN TO HAVE PAIN FROM MY SCIATIC NERVE. I EXPERIENCED SOME PAIN FROM IT DURING THE DAY, BUT GETTING OUT OF BED WAS THE WORST TIME. I WOULD LEAN ON THE BED, DRESSER, WALL, BATHROOM SINK, OR TOILET FOR SUPPORT BECAUSE MY RIGHT LEG WOULD GIVE OUT, AND I COULD FEEL THE PAIN FROM THE SCIATIC NERVE. IT HAD BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED AND WALK ON TWO FEET WITHOUT HOLDING ONTO SOMETHING.
TREVOR WAS NOW SIX MONTHS OLD AND THE PAIN HAD NOT GONE AWAY. IN FACT, THE PAIN WAS AT ITS PEAK POINT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN OUTSIDE RAKING LEAVES THREE DAYS IN A ROW ON THURS., OCT. 20, FRI. OCT. 31, AND SAT. NOV. 1. AFTER RAKING LEAVES ON FRIDAY, I SAT IN A CHAIR THAT EVENING AND HAD THE WORST PAIN EVER IN MY LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG DOWN TO MY KNEE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, THE WEATHER WAS VERY NICE, SO FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW I WAS RAKING LEAVES, RUNNING THE LEAF BLOWER, AND PREPARING THE GARDEN FOR WINTER.
AFTER GOING TO BED SATURDAY NIGHT (NOV. 1), I WAS WOKE UP BY TREVOR AT 3 AM SUNDAY MORNING. I GOT UP AND WENT TO GRAB THE BED WHEN I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT NEED TO GRAB THE BED BECAUSE I COULD STAND ON TWO FEET AND WALK. I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED AND WALK WITHOUT SUPPORT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO LIFT TREVOR BACK IN HIS CRIB WITHOUT PAIN IN MY BACK AND LEG FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE WAS BORN. THE PAIN FROM THE SCIATIC NERVE WAS COMPLETELY GONE.
MY HUSBAND ED BELIEVES ME COMPLETELY BECAUSE HE CAN SEE WITH HIS OWN EYES THAT I DO NOT NEED TO HOLD ONTO ANYTHING FOR SUPPORT WHEN I WALK OR GET DRESSED IN THE MORNING. ALSO, I AM NOW ABLE TO CARRY TREVOR ON MY RIGHT SIDE, WHICH I WAS NOT ABLE TO BEFORE.
IT HAS BEEN OVER THREE WEEKS NOW, AND I HAVE HAD NO PAIN FROM MY SCIATIC NERVE.
By: Diane O. from Garrett, Indiana. Nov. 24, 2003
Testimony 150
PULMONARY VALVE STENOSIS
"IN JANUARY, 2002, THE RELICS (BOTH THE GLOVES AND THE CHASUBLE) OF BL. GIANNA WERE AT MY HOME PARISH, ST. MARY'S IN CLINTON, MARYLAND. THEY WERE BEAUTIFULLY DISPLAYED DURING MASS, AND AFTERWARDS WE WERE INVITED UP TO VENERATE THEM. MY 8 YEAR OLD SON WAS WITH ME, AND MY 6 YR. OLD WAS WITH MY HUSBAND. AFTER WE WERE THROUGH, I ASKED MY HUBBIE JIM, IF MY 6 YR. OLD, BRIAN MICHAEL, HAD TOUCHED THE GLOVES. JIM SAID HE WASN'T SURE, SO I TOOK BRIAN AND GOT BACK IN LINE! WE APPROACHED THE GLOVES AND WERE TOLD WE COULD TOUCH THEM TO BRIAN'S CHEST, AS WE WERE PRAYING FOR A HEALING OF HIS HEART MURMUR, CAUSED BY A PULMONARY VALVE STENOSIS (NARROWING OF THE PULMONARY VALVE, A CONDITION HE HAS HAD SINCE BIRTH). WE DID THIS AND PRAYED FOR HIS HEALING THROUGH THIS HOLY SAINT.
IN MARCH, WE WENT FOR BRIAN'S ANNUAL CARDIOLOGY CHECK UP. THE DOCTORS HAD ASSURED US THAT ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS SUCH AS THESE DO NOT GO AWAY OR GET BETTER, WE COULD HOPE THAT HIS WOULD NEVER GET WORSE (AND IT WAS MILD, BUT DID NECESSITATE SPECIAL CARE FOR DENTAL/STITCHES/SURGERY, ETC.). EACH YEAR HE HAD A FAVORABLE REPORT IN THAT THE CONDITION DID NOT WORSEN, REQUIRING SURGERY. THIS YEAR I WAS PRAYING FOR THE SAME THING.
THE CARDIOLOGIST DID LENGTHY TESTING, INCLUDING AN EKG AND AN ADVANCED SONOGRAM. AFTER REVIEWING THE TAPED SONOGRAM FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, HE ENTERED THE ROOM AND STATED THAT SOMETHING "VERY RARE" HAD OCCURRED AND THAT BRIAN'S STENOSIS WAS GONE! IT HAD BEEN HEALED, WHICH IS NOT A NATURALLY OCCURRING THING FOR THIS CONDITION. THERE WAS NO MEDICAL EXPLANATION, JUST A "VERY RARE THING". THE DR. TOLD US THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE US IN THE FUTURE, THERE WAS NO NEED TO EVER COME BACK, EVEN DURING PUBERTY, THE MOST WORRISOME TIME FOR THIS CONDITION! HE SAID IT WAS GONE, SO NO NEED TO FEAR IT GETTING WORSE! OF COURSE, WE PRAISED GOD AND THANKED BL. GIANNA FOR THE "LITTLE" MIRACLE IN OUR SON'S LIFE! HE HAS A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO HER NOW, AS DO WE ALL.
The Second Answered Prayer WAS THAT DURING THE LATER PART OF MY SISTER'S PREGNANCY, SHE LEARNED SHE HAD A PREGNANCYRELATED LIVER CONDITION, THAT COULD RESULT IN LATE TERM STILLBIRTH OF THE BABY. WE BEGGED BL. GIANNA'S INTERCESSION, AND AFTER RECEIVING A TOUCHED HOLY CARD AT OUR PARISH IN JANUARY AND GIVING IT TO MY SISTER, THE BABY BECAME MORE ACTIVE THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE PREGNANCY, THE TESTS WERE ALL FAVORABLE AND SHE WAS BORN HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL ON FEBRUARY 18, 2002, NAMED CAROLINE GRACE.
THESE MAY NOT BE "CANONIZATION" MIRACLES, BUT THEY ARE VERY PRECIOUS TO OUR FAMILY!
I THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU ARE DOING!"
By: Marti and Jim of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. May 21, 2002
Testimony 151
UNBORN BABY SUSPECTED NO BRAIN AND PARALYZED
MY NAME IS TRACY AND ON OCT. 4TH OF 2000 I FOUND OUT THAT MY CHILD, WHOM I WAS PREGNANT WITH, HAD NO BRAIN, HOLOPROSENCEPHALY, AND SPINA BIFIDA, THEY THOUGHT AT T12, IN THE UPPER BACK WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT SHE WOULD BE PARALYZED FROM THE CHEST DOWN. YOU SEE, I HAD FALLEN DOWN THE STAIRS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE AND EXPERIENCED SOME SLIGHT BLEEDING AND TIGHTENING OF THE ABDOMEN. I WENT TO SEE MY OB/GYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT THEY SAW A TEAR IN MY PLACENTA, (ULTRASOUND), SO THEY SENT ME TO THE SPECIALISTS FOR A LEVEL II ULTRASOUND. THAT WAS HOW WE FOUND OUT.
DURING THIS TIME I WAS STUNNED. I COULDN'T EVEN PRAY EXCEPT TO BEG GOD TO HAVE MERCY ON MY CHILD. I TOLD NO ONE EXCEPT MY HUSBAND OF COURSE, MY MOTHER AND ONE SISTER, AND I ALSO BEGGED MY BABY'S NAMESAKE, YOU SEE I ALWAYS NAME MY CHILDREN IN THE WOMB, TO PRAY FOR HER.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER I READ AN ARTICLE IN "LAYWITNESS MAGAZINE" ABOUT A WOMAN WHO GAVE HER LIFE FOR HER CHILD. I ADMIRED THAT VERY MUCH, AND BEING OF ITALIAN DESCENT I LOVED HER NAME IMMEDIATELY. YOU SEE THAT NAME WAS GIANNA. MY HUSBAND LOVED THE NAME ALSO AND FROM THAT MOMENT, THAT WAS HER NAME. (WE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT WAS A GIRL, BUT I HAD A FEELING).
ON DEC. 19TH, 2000 MY GIANNA WAS BORN. NOT ONLY DOES SHE HAVE A BRAIN, BUT SHE CAN MOVE HER LEGS. SHE IS NOT PARALYZED, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES HAVE SPINA BIFIDA AND SEVERE HYDROCEPHALUS. SHE IS ALIVE! ONE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT THE LONGEST HE HAD EVER SEEN A CHILD IN THAT CONDITION LAST WAS THREE MONTHS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SYMPATHETIC THE NURSES AND DOCTORS WERE, POOR ME, I COULDN'T HAVE AN ABORTION, IT WAS TOO LATE. BUT I DID WITNESS, AND I DID TELL THE GENETIC COUNSELOR, WHEN SHE TOLD ME NOT TO GET MY HOPES UP, THAT "MY LORD RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD. HE CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS."
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US GIANNA!
By: Tracy. March 16, 2001
Testimony 152
CANCER TREATMENT THEN PREGNANCY!
3/6/2002
"WHEN I FIRST WROTE YOU, MY WIFE WAS SUFFERING FROM HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA. KAREN UNDERWENT CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION TO PUT HER INTO REMISSION. THE CANCER WAS STAGE II AND HAD EXTENDED FROM HER CLAVICLE TO BEHIND HER STERNUM. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND FELT THE SUPPORT OF OUR BENEFACTORS THROUGHOUT THE ORDEAL. BLESSED GIANNA WAS A VERY SPECIAL HELP TO US. WE NEVER FELT DEPRESSED OR AT OUR WIT'S END. IT WAS A SUFFERING, BUT ONE WITH MANY GRACES. KAREN HAS BEEN CANCERFREE SINCE AUGUST 2000.
BUT OUR STORY DOES NOT END THERE. WE HAD BEEN ADVISED BY OUR ONCOLOGIST (AT OUR CATHOLIC HOSPITAL) TO CONTRACEPT SO AS TO AVOID ALL CHANCES OF PREGNANCY BOTH DURING THERAPY AND FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS AFTER. WE DEMURRED, CITING OUR BELIEFS, BUT STATED THAT WE WOULD STRIVE TO AVOID PREGNANCY WITH OUR PRACTICE OF NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP). HE STRESSED THAT THE CHILD CONCEIVED WOULD HAVE ALL MANNER OF GENETIC DEFECTS IF WE FAILED.
TO BE CERTAIN, WE ABSTAINED FROM RELATIONS DURING THERAPY, BUT RESUMED PRACTICING A VERY CONSERVATIVE NFP IN SEPTEMBER. MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE (AND WORRY) WE CONCEIVED ONLY 12 MONTHS AFTER TREATMENT HAD CONCLUDED. MY WIFE WAS UPSET AND WORRIED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HORRIBLE SCENARIOS THAT HAD BEEN PAINTED FOR US. WE PUT OUR FAITH IN GOD, KNOWING THAT THIS CHILD MUST HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT REASON FOR BEING. WE ASKED BLESSED GIANNA TO WATCH OVER OUR LITTLE CHILD IN THE WOMB.
OUR DOCTORS WERE ASTOUNDED. THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, OR AT LEAST A ONEINAMILLION CHANCE. HER REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE THERAPY FOR AT LEAST A YEAR OR SO. IT WAS ALSO A VERY POSITIVE SIGN THAT KAREN'S BODY HAD RECOVERED WELL. IN FACT, SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT (SENSITIVITY TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES, ANEMIA, AND DECREASED BLOOD LEVELS) STARTED TO GO AWAY.
ELIZABETH GIANNA PROVENCHER WAS BORN ON AUGUST 1, 2001. DESPITE ALL PREDICTIONS, SHE IS HEALTHY AND DEVELOPING FINE. KAREN'S BLOOD LEVELS ARE NORMAL AND SHE HAS NO PRACTICAL EFFECTS FROM THE TREATMENT. SHE REMAINS CANCERFREE.
WE'VE ENCLOSED A PICTURE OF ELIZABETH GIANNA. WE CONSIDER HER TO BE A SPECIAL GIFT FROM GOD. NOT MANY UNDERSTAND OUR JOY BUT WE KNEW YOU WOULD. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
By: William and Karen Provencher of Haverhill, Massachusetts
Testimony 153
ANOTHER PHYSICIAN PRAYING FOR HIS PATIENT: TWINS!
10 August 1998
"I FIRST LEARNED OF BLESSED GIANNA WHEN I ATTENDED A RETREAT FOR CATHOLIC PHYSICIANS IN VANCOVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SPRING OF 1992. THE PRIEST IN CHARGE OF THE RETREAT, FR. JOE HATTIE, KNEW OF THE CAUSE, AND PRESENTED ME WITH A BROCHURE ABOUT BL. GIANNA, AND A HANDFUL (LITERALLY!) OF THIRD CLASS RELICS.
I AM A PRACTISING FAMILY PHYSICIAN, AND AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING WITH A YOUNG COUPLE WHO HAD JUST EXPERIENCED THEIR FOURTH PREGNANCY LOSS. AT THE TIME, THEY HAD NO LIVING CHILDREN. I HAD ADVISED THEM THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF CARRYING A PREGNANCY TO TERM WAS REMOTE. WE HAD NOT YET TALKED ABOUT ADOPTION.
I WOULDN'T EXACTLY SAY THAT I BEGAN A NOVENA TO BL. GIANNA FOR HER ASSISTANCE, BUT I DID PRAY OFTEN, ASKING HER INTERCESSION. IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR, OUR FOURTH CHILD WAS BORN, AND THIS YOUNG MOTHER WHOSE ONLY CHILDREN WERE FOUR ANGELS, HAVING BECOME CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS WITH MY WIFE AND FAMILY, WAS ASKED TO BE OUR DAUGHTER'S GODMOTHER. THE WOMAN WAS NOT CATHOLIC, NOR WAS HER HUSBAND. SHE ACCEPTED.
NOW, THE REAL REMARKABLE AND MIRACULOUS, I BELIEVE EVENT OCCURRED AT JUST ABOUT THAT SAME TIME. FOR A MERE TWO WEEKS LATER, OR SO, THE WOMAN CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS PREGNANT. I'D INTRODUCED THE COUPLE TO NFP A FEW YEARS PRIOR, AFTER THEIR FIRST MISCARRIAGE, AND SO SHE HAD BECOME SOMEWHAT OF AN EXPERT AT RECOGNIZING PREGNANCY, WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF CONCEPTION. SURE ENOUGH, THE TEST WAS POSITIVE. OF COURSE, I CONTINUED TO CONSULT WITH BL. GIANNA THROUGH PRAYER INVOCATION, AND BELIEVED THAT, DESPITE MY RESERVATIONS SUPPORTED BY THE MEDICAL FACTS IN THE CASE, THIS PREGNANCY WOULD BE DIFFERENT. BL. GIANNA WOULD SEE TO IT.
BY THE EIGHTH WEEK OF GESTATION, THE POINT AT WHICH HER PRIOR PREGNANCIES HAD BECOME TROUBLED, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF TROUBLE, AND WE ELECTED TO DO AN INITIAL ULTRASOUND. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE (AND THEIRS TOO!) WE SAW NOT ONE, BUT TWO GESTATIONAL SACS, EACH WITH A BABY'S BEATING HEART WITHIN. OF COURSE, WE ALL SHARED A FEW TEARS OF EMOTIONAL JOY, BUT I COULD TELL THAT THEY WERE MORE APPREHENSIVE NOW THAN EVER.
I NEVER SHARED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH BL. GIANNA WITH THIS COUPLE. WHY, I DON'T KNOW, FOR I SHARED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT MY CATHOLIC FAITH WITH THEM. I CAN'T HONESTLY RECALL WHETHER I GAVE THE MOTHER ONE OF MY THIRD CLASS RELICS, OR NOT, BUT I AM CERTAIN THAT I NEVER WENT INTO DETAIL WITH THEM ABOUT THE ITALIAN PEDIATRICIAN/MOTHER THAT I WAS COMING TO KNOW THROUGH PRAYER. I JUST KEPT PRAYING.
MOST AMAZING ABOUT THIS, WAS THAT THE TWINS PROVED TO BE FRATERNAL A BOY AND A GIRL WHICH MEANS TWO OVA, AND THIS, FROM A WOMAN WHOSE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS HAD BEEN BADLY DAMAGED BY A COMBINATION OF ENDOMETRIOSIS, AS WELL AS A PRIOR ECTOPIC PREGNANCY WHICH HAD NECESSITATED THE REMOVAL OF HER LEFT TUBE AND OVARY SOME MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS CONCEPTION. THE TWINS WERE CONCEIVED, I MIGHT ADD, WITHOUT THE USE OF FERTILITY DRUGS. THE PREGNANCY WAS AS COMPLICATED AS I'D ANTICIPATED, THE LAST TWELVE WEEKS, OR SO, REQUIRING COMPLETE BEDREST AND AN EXTENDED HOSPITAL STAY ON THE PART OF THE MOTHER. EVEN THE DELIVERY WAS NEARLY MIRACULOUS (ALL DELIVERIES ARE, AREN'T THEY?) IN A PROVIDENTIAL SORT OF WAY. WE HAD REACHED THE 34TH WEEK OF GESTATION AND HAD BEGUN TO MAKE TWICEWEEKLY INVESTIGATIONS ABOU THE BABIES' WELLBEING WITH SERIAL NONSTRESS TESTS AND BIOPHYSICAL PROFILES. THE TWINS WERE GROWING WELL, CONCORDANTLY, AND WERE IN A BREECH/VERTEX PRESENTATION, WHICH NECESSITATED THE PREPARATION FOR CESARIAN BIRTH. BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER WERE AWARE OF THIS AND WERE IN AGREEMENT.
THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE DELIVERY WAS SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE BECAUSE, ABRUPTLY, TWIN A WHO WE KNEW TO BE A BOY, BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE SIGNS OF STRESS AND RATHER PRONOUNCED STRESS. WE QUICKLY MOVED TO DELIVERY, AND IN THE INSTANT OF HIS BIRTH, I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS ALREADY DEAD. HE HAD NO TONE, AND INITIALLY NO VITAL SIGNS. HE DID, HOWEVER, RESPOND TO RESUSCITATION IN THE DELIVERY ROOM. HIS SISTER WAS GREAT FROM THE START.
THE TWINS CELEBRATED THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAYS JUST LAST WEEK, AND THEY ARE NEIGHBORS OF OURS, AND KNOW OUR YOUNGER CHILDREN QUITE WELL. THEIR PRESENCE IN OUR HOME, AND OUR LIVES IS A VERY REAL REMINDER OF THE ITALIAN PEDIATRICIAN/MOTHER WHO GAVE HER LIFE FOR HER CHILD, AND HER INTERCESSION BEFORE GOD ON BEHALF OF THIS YOUNG FAMILY WHO LIVES DOWN THE STREET. INTERESTINGLY, THE FATHER OF THE TWINS IS A GODFATHER TO OUR FOURTH SON, THOMAS, AND THIS COUPLE TOOK RCIA CLASSES AND WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING THE TIME OF THEIR PREGNANCY WITH THE TWINS. THE TWINS, MATTHEW AND ELIZABETH (MATT AND LIBBY, AS WE KNOW THEM) WILL GO TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. THERE WILL BE NO MORE CHILDREN BORN TO THIS COUPLE AS THE MOTHER DID UNDERGO A HYSTERECTOMY TWO YEARS AGO FOR TREATMENT OF INTRACTABLE ENDOMETRIOSIS.
MY, OH MY! I DID NOT PLAN TO RAMBLE ON SO, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE TOLD THAT STORY ON PAPER. I HAVE SHARED IT WITH A FEW FRIENDS, BUT IT'S THE SORT OF STORY THAT THE FAITHLESS WOULD SCOFF AT. THANKS FOR LISTENING."
By: Dr. Michael S. of Nebraska
Testimony 154
LYMPHATIC CANCER
MY MOTHER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR WHAT HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AS PNEUMONIA ON SEPT. 10, 2003. SHE'S HAD A CHRONIC LUNG CONDITION MOST OF HER LIFE, SO WE WERE NOT OVERLY CONCERNED. SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS SEVERAL TIMESA VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A FEW DAYS, INTENSE ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT, THEN RELEASE. MY MOTHER REGULARLY SEES A PULMONARY SPECIALIST. MOM IS IN WONDERFUL PHYSICAL CONDITION AND DOES NOT ABUSE HER LUNGS BY SMOKINGSHE NEVER HAS.
WE RECEIVED FRIGHTENING AND DEVASTATING NEWS TWO DAYS LATER WHEN ONE OF THE PULMONARY SPECIALISTS CAME TO MOM'S ROOM TO REPORT THE RESULTS OF HER RECENT CT SCAN. I SPOKE WITH THE DOCTOR INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT THE CT SCAN SHOWED A MASS OR LUMP IN MY MOTHER'S RIGHT LUNG AND VERY ENLARGED LYMPH NODES IN THE REGION OF THE CHEST CAVITY. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROGNOSIS. THE DOCTOR STATED TO ME THAT HE TRULY BELIEVED THIS WAS A CANCER CASE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE LUNG REGION AND HAD ALREADY SPREAD TO THE REST OF HER LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE REMOVED. HE SAID IT COULD NOT, CALLING IT INOPERABLE. "I'M VERY SORRY," HE SAID. MY FAMILY CONTINUED TO BE WITH MY MOM THROUGHOUT THAT WEEKEND. THE DOCTOR WANTED SOME FURTHER TESTING THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
I PHONED MY PARISH PRIEST AT ST. MARIA GORETTI CHURCH IN HATFIELD, PA. BEFORE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL SUNDAY, SEPT. 14, MY FATHER AND I DECIDED TO ATTEND THE 7:30 A.M. MASS. THEN WE COULD BE WITH MOM FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
AS I ENTERED MASS SUNDAY MORNING I SAW SOME SORT OF GOWN IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR AND A SMALL TABLE WITH WHITE GLOVES. I PICKED UP THE BROCHURE AND READ ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA AS THE SOCIETY OF BLESSED GIANNA HAPPENED TO BE AT MY PARISH. MY FATHER AND I BOTH RECEIVED THE PRAYER CARDS OF BLESSED GIANNA WHICH HAD BEEN TOUCHED TO HER GLOVES.
FOLLOWING MASS, I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL WITH THE CARDS OF BLESSED GIANNA AND MY MOM'S ROSARIES. I SPOKE TO MY MOM ABOUT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TO US BY THE BLESSED GIANNA SOCIETY THAT MORNING. I KEPT ONE CARD AND GAVE THE OTHER TO MY MOM.
BEFORE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AT NIGHT, WE PRAYED TOGETHER WITH THE CARDS CLOSE TO MY MOM'S HEART AND CHEST, ASKING GIANNA TO INTERVENE FOR US IN ASKING JESUS TO TAKE AWAY THIS PROBABLE CANCER. MOM SLEPT WITH HER CARD UNDER HER NIGHTSHIRT IN THE HOSPITAL. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, A BIOPSY WAS ATTEMPTED BUT NOT PERFORMED. WHEN THE DOCTOR WENT TO INSERT THE NEEDLE BY DIRECTION OF THE CT SCAN THAT DAY, HE STATED THAT THE LUMP HAD DECREASED IN SIZE, AND HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BIOPSY THE LUMP. THIS WAS TREMENDOUS NEWS! BUT UPON SPEAKING TO HER SPECIALIST DIRECTLY, I LEARNED THE DOCTORS WERE STILL CONCERNED. THE LYMPH NODES STILL APPEARED TO BE VERY ENLARGED EVEN THOUGH THE LUMP HAD DECREASED IN SIZE. SEVERAL OTHER TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND DEEMED INCONCLUSIVE. MY MOM'S SPECIALIST NOW FELT THAT THE CANCER COULD ACTUALLY BE A LYMPHOMA ORIGINATING IN THE LYMPH NODES. HE WANTED A REPEAT CT SCAN FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST ONE SO THAT HE COULD COMPARE THE TESTS.
DURING THIS INBETWEEN TIME, WE CONTINUED TO PRAY TO BLESSED GIANNA, ASKING HER TO INTERCEDE. I CALLED THE SOCIETY AND SPOKE WITH JIM BUFFLER, WHO ASSURED ME HE WOULD PUT MY MOM ON THE BLESSED GIANNA PRAYER LINE. WE CONTINUED TO PRAY, AS DID MANY OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
LAST WEEK, MY MOM RECEIVED A CALL FROM HER SPECIALIST STATING THAT THE RECENT CT SCAN INDICATED THAT THE LYMPH NODES HAD DRAMATICALLY DECREASED AND THE LUMP ON THE RIGHT LUNG WAS GONE COMPLETELY!
ON OCTOBER 20, 2003, WE MADE AN OFFICE VISIT TO THIS SAME SPECIALIST. HE STATED THAT HE NOW FEELS THAT THERE IS LESS THAN 1 PERCENT CHANCE THAT THIS INFECTION IS CANCER, AS CANCER WILL NOT SHRINK OR BECOME SMALLER WITHOUT TREATMENT. HE STATED THAT UPON SEEING THE FIRST CT SCAN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, ALL SPECIALISTS IN HIS PRACTICE WERE FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS A LUNG CANCER THAT SPREAD TO THE LYMPH REGION.
MY MOTHER AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE WAS INTERVENTION FOR THIS HEALING. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOOD HEALTH AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PRAYED FOR ALL OF US. INDIVIDUALLY, I WANT TO THANK THE BLESSED GIANNA SOCIETY FOR BEING PRESENT AT ST. MARIA GORETTI PARISH THAT SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER. THEIR VISIT PROVED SO VALUABLE.
By: Theresa Mack as reported in the Catholic Standard and Times newspaper
Testimony 155
GOD GAVE HER A SIGNAN ACTUAL SIGN!
"I HAD A TROUBLED PREGNANCY WITH MY SECOND CHILD. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THE BABY WAS HIGH RISK FOR SPINAL BIFIDA AND SAID AN ABORTION WOULD BE AN OPTION. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME THE SEVERITY OF THE CONDITION. THE DOCTOR SENT ME TO A SPECIALIST TWICE A WEEK FOR THE DURATION OF THE PREGNANCY.
THE BABY WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 1, 2002 AND SHE DID NOT HAVE SPINAL BIFIDA. WE NAMED HER GIANNA ROSE C... (I SAW THE NAME GIANNA IN A NAME BOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT). A WEEK AFTER GIANNA WAS BORN SHE WENT FOR A ROUTINE BLOOD EXAMINATION. THE RESULTS WERE DEVASTATING! THE DOCTOR TOLD ME GIANNA HAD AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOOD DISEASE CALLED GLUCOSE6PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (AN ENZYME FOUND THROUGHOUT THE BODY WHICH IS NECESSARY TO CHANGE SUGAR TO ENERGY). THEY COULD NOT TREAT HER AND SENT THE OFFICE RECORDS TO THE NEONATAL SPECIALISTS AT SAINT CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I TOLD THE PHYSICIANS WHAT THE OB/GYN PRACTICE PUT ME THROUGH DURING MY PREGNANCY, AND ASKED IF THIS COULD BE A MISTAKE. SHE SAID, I AM REALLY SORRY BUT THIS IS NOT THE SAME THING AND IT'S NOT A MISTAKE. SHE TOLD ME TO GET GIANNA'S BLOOD RETESTED.
THAT WEEK I WAS DRIVING IN MY HOMETOWN, BRISTOL BORO, PA. IRONICALLY, RADCLIFFE STREET IS NOT A ROAD THAT I TRAVEL ON. AS I AM DRIVING I SEE ON SAINT MARK'S CHURCH "GOD BLESS GIANNA" (IT WAS LIKE A NEON SIGN). I AM CATHOLIC, BUT AT THE TIME WAS NOT PRACTISING. I WENT INTO THE CHURCH AND ASKED THE PRIEST WHY IS THE SIGN OUT THERE. HE TOLD ME TO COME TO THE MASS AT 7:00 THAT NIGHT. AT MASS UPON THE ALTAR WERE GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA'S GLOVES. I TOLD TWO WOMEN THERE ABOUT GIANNA'S CONDITION. THEY ASKED ME TO PUT THE GLOVES ON MY BABY.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER GIANNA'S PEDIATRICIAN CALLED ME ON THE PHONE AND HER EXACT WORDS WERE "GIANNA'S BLOOD IS 100% NORMAL, THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE IT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED".
AT FIRST, I DIDN'T TELL FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I THOUGHT THE EVENT AT CHURCH CURED MY BABY. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND GIANNA'S MIRACULOUS RECOVERY WAS DUE TO GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA'S BLESSING. "MY DAUGHTER IS A MIRACLE".
By: Bridget C. of Levittown, Pennsylvania
Testimony 156
FLESHEATING BACTERIA
8.30.00 "MY DAUGHTERINLAW TOLD ME OF HER FRIEND WHO WAS STRICKEN WITH A BACTERIA THAT EATS AWAY YOUR FLESH. SHE CONTRACTED IT WHEN GIVING BIRTH BY CSECTION. SHE WAS NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE. SHE DID SURVIVE AND I THINK IT IS BECAUSE OF THE INTERCESSION OF BL. GIANNA. WE ALL BEGAN TO PRAY TO HER AND ASKED EVERYONE TO JOIN US.
THE DOCTORS WERE AMAZED THAT THE INFECTION WAS CONTROLLED IN A SHORT PERIOD AND HER RECOVERY WAS QUICKER THAN THEY HAD EVER SEEN..
I WANT TO THANK BLESSED GIANNA AND ASK FOR HER CONTINUING HELP AND ALSO ASK IF THIS MAY HELP IN HER CANONIZATION PROCESS.
By: Mary B. of Madison, Virginia
Testimony 157
MOTHER AND SON SEPARATED FOR 16 YEARS
7/8/2002. "I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE VERY FINE PRESENTATION THAT THE SOCIETY GAVE TO OUR PARISHIONERS ON MOTHERS' DAY, 2002. MANY PEOPLE TOOK GREAT COMFORT IN KNOWING BETTER BLESSED GIANNA. HER STORY IS CURRENT AND OUR PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH HER. I WAS PERSONALLY MOVED BY THE PIETY AND DEVOTION OF MY PARISHIONERS.
THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING THE VENERATION OF THE RELIC, ONE OF OUR PARISHIONERS CAME TO ME WITH TEARS OF JOY. SHE PRAYED TO BLESSED GIANNA THAT SHE WOULD RENEW COMMUNICATION WITH A SON THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD FROM FOR SIXTEEN YEARS. IMAGINE, THE PAIN IN THE HEART OF THAT MOTHER. THAT WAS HER INTENTION AS SHE VENERATED THE RELIC. ON WEDNESDAY OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING MOTHERS' DAY HER SON CALLED HER (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS). HE CALLED HER FROM TEXAS. SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AND NOW PLANS TO GET TOGETHER THIS SUMMER.
I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER WONDERFUL "THINGS" THROUGH HER INTERCESSION FROM OTHER PRIESTS THAT HAVE HAD DEVOTION IN THEIR PARISHES.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL IN YOUR APOSTOLATE OF MAKING THIS MODERN "HOLY WOMAN" BETTER KNOWN.
By: Rev. Msgr. Edward M. Deliman, Pastor, Visitation B.V.M. Church, Philadelphia, PA
Testimony 158
UMBILICAL CORD WITH KNOT WRAPPED 5 TIMES AROUND BABY'S NECK!
In September 2001, I discovered I was pregnant again. My previous pregnancy had not been an easy one, and while I was thrilled to be blessed with another baby, I was a little concerned about how this pregnancy would be. Between homeschooling our older son, taking care of the toddler, and working weekends in the Maternity Unit of a hospital, I was frequently exhausted. I had read about Gianna Beretta Molla (then a \"Blessed\") and found a special connection with her. Like Gianna, I too had young children at home, worked in the maternal/child medical field and had a husband who was frequently away on business. I began to draw strength from her examples of daily living and how she handled her difficult pregnancy. Having a history of low hormones, I had to give myself progesterone injections to help build up the uterine lining until about week 13. Just when I thought I would get a reprieve from needles, it was discovered that I had again become a gestational diabetic and needed to give myself insulin several times daily. This added to my worrying, but also increased my prayers. At a routine ultrasound done around 20 weeks, the scan was unable to show all four chambers of the heart and a complete brain was not visible. My doctor reassuringly told me that it was probably do to baby\'s position and she would have another scan done in a couple of weeks. I decided to put my trust in God and not push for a highresolution ultrasound at this time. I made it through the Christmas holidays with tears and prayers and finally, a scan the first week of January showed a perfectly formed little boy with all his necessary organs! Thank you Jesus, Blessed Mother, and Blessed Gianna! All seemed to go well until I had reached my 33rd week. A vein that had been giving me trouble was found to be clotted off and not only caused severe pain, but posed a danger of the clot breaking free and traveling to my heart or brain. It was decided surgical intervention was necessary and would best be done under spinal anesthesia. All went well in the operating room, but in recovery, my blood pressure plummeted and I lost consciousness. The first thing I remember seeing was the lovely face of my coworker from OB, hooking me up to the fetal monitor and the feeling of relief as I got to hear little Patrick\'s heartbeat ticking away. After my recovery preceeded without incident, I was able to go home on bedrest (as much bedrest as you can get with small children around). The week before my scheduled CSection, I was in the doctor\'s office for a routine nonstress test. A strong BraxtonHicks contraction caused Patrick\'s heartrate to go from the 140\'s to the 80\'s and remain there for the duration of the contraction. I had rolled to my left side as soon as I heard the deceleration of heartrate and called out for the office nurse. The contraction wore off and the heartbeat resumed it\'s normal rate and after being monitored for several more hours, I was sent home. The nonstress test the day before the birth was fine, and although I had increasing BraxtonHicks contractions, I felt good. This was the third baby I would be delivering by Ceserean, in the hospital unit where I worked, surrounded by knowledgable coworkers, so all seemed to be going well. On April 24, 2002 (the anniversary of the Beatification of Gianna Beretta Molla), my husband and I arrived at the hospital where I was placed on the fetal monitor and an IV started. Two hours later, I walked, pushing my IV pole into the CSection room. After the spinal block was in place, my husband sitting nervously beside me and my doctor gowned and gloved, we were ready. Being a highrisk pregnancy, the Neonatalogist, and an RN and Respiratory Therapist from the NICU were called in to take care of Patrick. The first thing I can recall hearing after the surgery began was my OB saying there was thick meconium (baby\'s first stool) present in the amniotic fluid. That means that at some point in late pregnancy, the baby was under physical duress. We would soon find out why. Meconium can be deadly for a newborn if they aspirate it into their lungs when they take their first breath. After clearing out Patrick\'s little breathing passages, my doctor began to bring Patrick\'s head out, only to discover the cord wrapped around his neck 5 times. Finally, with the cord loops removed from his neck (a sixth loop was discovered around his shoulders), he was pulled free from my uterus and passed off to the NICU team for resuscitation. Upon examination of the very long umbilical cord, a true knot was found in it as well. Both my doctor and her nurse commented that it must have been all those prayers and Hail Mary\'s I had said that kept Patrick safe. He was easily resuscitated and we got to snap a few pictures of him before he was taken to the NICU for evaluation and observation. After all that, I was finally able to shut my eyes and sleep during the remainder of the surgery. I was so thankful that the neonatalogist determined Patrick was doing great and was brought out to be with me only 4 hours after his harrowing birth experience. It was the next day, with Patrick in my arms, when my doctor told me that in her 20 years of OB/GYN, she had never encountered a baby with cord wrapped around it\'s neck more than 4 times that was not a stillborn, let alone having a true knot in the cord. I know with all my heart that, along with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was the intercession of Blessed Gianna, along with Patrick\'s Guardian Angel, that kept him safe. In a few weeks, on the 24th of April, we\'ll be celebrating n Patrick\'s 6th birthday, and 4 days later, on April 28th, St Gianna\'s feast day. I\'ve come to find those two days seem to go hand in hand for our family. I love St Gianna and have found that she is a powerful intercessor! St Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Testimony 159
INFERTILITY NOW TWINS!
My husband and I had struggled with infertility for years. We had one early miscarriage and decided to move on to adoption. Through a series of events in my life, St. Gianna came into my life. I prayed to her, prayed her novena and visited the shrine on several occasions. Imagine my surprise when my husband and I found out we were expecting twins! A double miracle and a double blessing! Thank you God and St. Gianna! I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and continue to pray to St. Gianna daily to watch over the babies and myself through this pregnancy. Thank you again St. Gianna for answered prayers!
Testimony 160
BLESSINGS BY PROXY!
On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe I've been celebrating a Mass of Hope and Healing for families that have lost a child through miscarriage, SIDS, abortion, accident, and for couples experiencing infertility.
During the Mass couples come forward to receive a blessing using a second class relic of St. Gianna Molla (thanks to Joe Cunningham).
This past Dec 12 a woman returned to give thanks; last year she came to the Mass and stood in proxy for her daughter who could not conceive. Nine months and one day after the blessing...her daughter gave birth to her first child and this woman's first grandchild.
The woman cried last year in desperation; she cried this year in profound thanksgiving.
Thank you, Saint Gianna, for helping this family!
By: Fr J Francis Sofie, Jr., Mobile, Alabama
Testimony 161
PHYSICIAN WITH PREECLAMPSIA/ GLOVES ARE WARM!
I have always been a devout Catholic but I never felt that my prayers have had much meaning until I met St. Gianna. I think that it is when we are in our darkest hour that we truly give ourselves totally to God's mercy. I myself am a physician and I often pray for my patients. I felt all was lost after many years of trying to conceive a baby. A dear friend of mine told me of St. Gianna and that her relic was going to be at St. Mary's of the Assumption church. I did touch her glove and a feeling of warmth came over me. Later after the Mass, we were told that people who receive blessings often felt the same way. I did conceive a baby several months later. At 31 weeks, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and was told I had to deliver the baby. My health was in jeopardy. I told my husband to go home and get my prayer to St. Gianna. I have been praying to her throughout my entire pregnancy and I trusted she wouldn't let anything happen to me. My son was delivered weighing only 2 lbs. 13 oz. He was very healthy and never needed oxygen or medications. Now at 1 years old, he is a 19 lb very happy and healthy little boy. I continue to pray to St. Gianna everyday. It was also through her intercession that I passed my medical boards. I do consider St. Gianna my friend and guide. I never proceed through a surgical procedure until I pray to her to guide my hands. Blessed be St. Gianna!
Testimony 162
EXTREME VOMITING DURING PREGNANCY + UPDATE
My dear friend Saint Gianna, thank you so much for your loving intercession to our Lord Jesus during my last pregnancy. I discovered I was pregnant with our third child in November of 2005. I had always gotten bad morning sickness when pregnant, but this time bad turned into horrifying. I could not keep anything down. I vomited everyting I ate and drank. Even water made me sick. I quickly lost twenty pounds during my second trimester. I was dehydrated as well, and needed many IV infusions. I often spent the day in my bathroom, vomiting for hours on end, until all that came out was bile and blood. I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Saint Gianna had been a cherished friend of mine since she was still a Blessed. I "met" her during my pilgrimage to World Youth Day in 2002, of which she was a patron. I knew this lovely saint had also suffered from HG. Each day, when I dragged myself to the bathroom, I brought my postcard from World Youth Day with the image of Saint Gianna. I would pray for her intercession and her strength. There was a day I thought constantly about abortion; Satan was tempting me severely. I cried out for it all to end. I looked at the picture of Saint Gianna and begged for her help; God felt so far away but Gianna understood what it was to suffer for a baby. When I asked for her help, I remembered Christ in the Garden, begging for the cup to pass from Him "nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done." The temptation to abort was instantly taken from me and Jesus suddenly felt close again. My darling daughter, Naomi Elizabeth Pearl, was born on Aug. 2, 2006. Saint Gianna helped me every step of the way. The baby's "secret" name will always be Gianna Gethsemane. Bless you, Saint Gianna. Thank you, loving Father, for providing saints like Gianna as role models of holiness for the rest of us.
UPDATE: APRIL 9, 2010
Message : Followup to testimony 56 I am the woman who gave testimony #56, extreme vomiting in pregnancy. I have a happy followup story. I am now pregnant with my fourth child, and through good medical care and the prayers and intercession of Saint Gianna, I have completely avoided hyperemesis gravidarum in this pregnancy. Praise God! St. Gianna helped give me the courage to dare another pregnancy after the last horrific one. My third son is due in June 2010.
By: Cindy M.
Testimony 163
RISKY PREGNANCY
Saint Gianna was canonized the day after my first born daughter's funeral [May 16, 2004]. A good friend of my mother sent us a copy of a novena for then blessed Gianna and her story. Our family began praying to Gianna then. I had a very complicated first pregnancy and in addition to losing my daughter, I nearly lost my own life. I was told I had a 6080% chance of a reoccurence in a following pregnancy. My husband and I so desparately wanted a child and decided we were willing to try again. But in the long months following our daughter's death we had trouble conceiving. It had been almost a year when one Sunday there was a blurb about the shrine to Saint Gianna in our church bulletin. We decided to visit the shrine. Saint Gianna's gloves were placed on my stomach and I kept the card I was given that day close to me at all times. Within 2 months I was pregnant. I prayed to Saint Gianna regularly and kept that card close to me always, especially at all of my medical appointments when I feared getting devastating news. In the end I was able to carry my second daughter to 36 weeks and despite a major complication at delivery she survived and is now a very healthy, happy, and energetic 11month old. I still pray to Saint Gianna and am so very grateful to her for watching over us. There is no greater gift than the gift of life.
Testimony 164
SIGN ON A TRUCK
About a year ago, my wife and I, unfortunately suffered a miscarriage. As devastating as it was, we kept our faith strong and put everything into Our Lord's hands. On my way into work each morning, while saying my prayers, I would always ask Our Lord, through the intercession of St. Gianna, to bless my wife and me with a child. One day, while driving to work, I saw a truck in the other lane as it passed. It had written on it, in huge gold letters, "GIANNA". I knew that St. Gianna was hearing my prayers and within a couple of weeks, my wife and I received the greatest news ever; we were expecting. Thus far my wife is doing wonderful in her pregnancy and my devotion to St. Gianna is always present. God bless!
Testimony 165
PREGNANT WITH KIDNEY STONES
I was pregnant with my fourth child in 2005. I have had problems with kidney stones during pregnancy and a friend of mine (her fourth child is named Gianna)gave me a relic of St. Gianna. I learned more about her life and prayed to her throughout the pregnancy. Then on October 3, 2005, I went into labor (after many episodes of kidney stones and even a surgery while I was pregnant during all of which I prayed to St. Gianna) I always had her relic with me. All day had passed and finally at night I had an epidural. Shortly after that the nurse checked to see how far dilated I was. When she checked she found the baby was facing the wrong way. She seemed very frantic and quickly started to make calls to the doctors and prepare for a Csection. My husband and I were nervous. So we prayed to St. Gianna and held onto the relic. At that moment I felt a big movement with the baby. When my doctor arrived and checked she said the baby was just fine and in the correct position. We gave birth to our fourth healthy son, Nikolas Joseph early in the morning of October 4, St. Gianna's birthday! Praise be to God!
Testimony 166
PREGNANT AND HAD CANCER!
St. Gianna was brought to my attention by my sisterinlaw. Hesitant to bring me her story, she did it anyway. Thanks be to God! I was diagnosed with Stage IIe nonhodgkins\' lymphoma AND papillary thryoid cancer on June 9, 2004. On 6/15/04 I found out I was pregant with our 4th child. Obviously, terminating my child was not an option. So, I had to wait to have surgery until my baby could make it through also. In August, during a 7 hour surgery, I had my spleen removed (where the tumor was) and my entire thyroid. I would promptly start chemotherapy 3 weeks later, 7 days after my 37th birthday. I would put off a portion of my treatment b/c it was not known how it would affect our baby. During each round of chemotherapy, I could just feel St. Gianna there filtering all the toxic drugs away from my beautiful child. Three weeks after my last treatment, on January 25, 2005, Grace Gianna was born into this world at 7 lbs. 6 oz. and perfectly healthy! I finished up 4 more treatments for the lymphoma and 2 more for the thyroid cancer that I couldn't do while pregnant and I have been in remission for 1 1/2 years! Praise our Good God!! Grace Gianna has also enjoyed great health! Also, before my surgery, my husband and I were invited by our Archbishop, Raymond Burke, to his home so he could pray with us. He has a relic of St. Gianna's wedding dress! We were able to venerate the relic and on our journey we continued with the comfort that we had St. Gianna interceding for us! This month (May 2006)Archbishop Burke has announced a new parish in our archdiocese.[Archdiocese of Saint Louis]. It is named....St. Gianna!
Testimony 167
INFERTILITY PHYSICIAN 7 YEARS
Thank you Siant Gianna. One year ago today I first learned of your beautiful life as I watched a documentary on TV. Today that same documentary aired again and I was reminded of how much you interceded for me. I too am a physician and a mother and I knew that you could help me. My husband and I had been unable to conceive for 7 years after our first child was born. I asked your intercession and that of Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint Michael the Archangel and to our delight Benjamin Thomas was conceived within 1 month of my prayers. We welcomed him to our home on February 23, 2006. Thank you!!!
By: a physician
Testimony 168
INFERTILITY
Through the past year, after losing a baby boy named Joseph, we have been praying to do God's will for having another child. We felt the Lord was putting it on our hearts, so it was his will. After months of prayer and discerning his will, we were disappointed when we weren't getting pregnant. We have 6 children who had been praying very hard for another child.
I knew St. Gianna's relics were coming to our church and was doing a novena to St. Gianna and St. Joseph (since we lost Joseph). When St. Gianna's relics came to our church, they prayed over me and placed the gloves on my stomach. The next day, which was the feast of St. Joseph, we found out that we were pregnant. Needless to say my children were very excited, as well as, my husband and I.
Testimony 169
LEUKEMIA/OSTEOPOROSIS/GLOVES ARE HOT!
The beginning of December, 2005 I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. I was a healthy, active 52yearold female and needless to say I was devastated. This is an extremely aggressive type, and I was also unfortunate in that my cytogenetics indicated that I had a specific gene that showed that my leukemia would be very resistant to treatment. I was immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent two rounds of intensive chemotherapy. After 7 weeks in the hospital, many allergic reactions, and a bout with pneumonia, I finally was able to go home. Unfortunately, my prognosis was very poor. I still had 20% leukemia cells in my bone marrow (under 2% is considered good for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant). My options seemed very limited. There were no close bone marrow donor matches for me, plus I was not in remission.
Jack and Amy Weber brought Saint Gianna’s gloves over to my house on February 7, 2006. I held the gloves and we talked and prayed for a long time. Jack and Amy explained some of the healings that people experienced after holding St. Gianna’s gloves. I was hopeful, but not sure that I was worthy of a miracle.
My pregnant daughter, Jessie, and her son were at my house visiting during this time. Jessie was busy on the phone talking to out of state hospitals trying to gather more info about possible treatment options for me. Finally we were able to get Jessie to sit and pray with us. I held the gloves to Jessie’s back, as she experienced terrible bone density loss after her first pregnancy. It was so severe osteoporosis. Her doctors strongly recommended that she not have any more children. When Jessie became pregnant again, she never even considered not having the baby, even though her doctors warned that she may end up in a wheelchair or worse.
While we prayed, I held St. Gianna’s glove to Jessie’s back. She whispered to me to please take it away as it was very hot and felt uncomfortable. My heart just leapt for joy, as I knew that Jessie would be cured, even if I were not.
On February 21, 2006 Jessie had a doctor’s appointment and the good news is that the curvature of her spine has greatly improved. Jessie is due to deliver Emma Grace about the middle of March. About three months after that, her doctors will do another bone density test. I feel positive that the results will be normal, and that she will have no spine fractures after this baby. Thank you Saint Gianna, praise God!!!!
I was preparing myself to undergo more chemotherapy and a very risky stem cell transplant—i.e. a transplant when you are not in remission and do not have a good donor match. Chances of success were poor at best, but my other option was to go on hospice and enjoy my last 69 month on earth. The transplant process is full of pitfalls, including organ rejection, pneumonias and chemo drugs, and a possible 3 month stay in the hospital if you were lucky to live that long. I was determined to see my yettobe born granddaughter, and prayed that I would live long enough to hold baby Emma Grace in my arms.
On February22, after another bone marrow biopsy, I was given the best news of my life—“â€there is no evidence of leukemia in your bone marrowâ€. My husband, three children, extended family and wonderful friends all jumped for joy with me. Even more impossible to explain, is that at my next appointment the doctor reported that the problematic cytogenetics issues of the abnormal gene that was resistant to treatment had ether vanished or resolved itself. The doctors were at a complete loss to explain how this could have happened.
I know how this happened – MIRACLE! I am so very grateful to Jack and Amy Weber for bringing over St. Gianna’s gloves to me when I was so down and facing such long odds. Not only did they cure my daughter of her back problems, but me also. Two miracles for the price of one visit!
I am still not quit out of the woods, as I will now go through the transplant procedure. But now that I am in remission, my chances of a successful transplant are vastly improved. I may be able to do a selftransplant, where my own stem cells are harvested, cleaned up and given back to me. This option completely eliminates all the rejection stuff. If I do go the donor transplant avenue, a better match has turned up in the meantime (another miracle!). I am feeling very positive about my future.
Thank you Saint Gianna, for interceding on my behalf. Thank you Jack and Amy Weber (I may need another visit before the transplant.) Thank you to all my wonderful family and friends who have been praying nonstop for my recovery.
By: Debbie from Lansdale, PA
Testimony 170
INFERTILITY – 10 ½ YEARS!
10/10/2002. “MY WIFE PATTY AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR
10 ½ YEARS AND HAD TRIED TO CONCEIVE FOR THOSE YEARS WITHOUT SUCCESS. AFTER UNDERGOING FERTILITY TESTING AND FINDING OUT THAT MY WIFE HAS ENDOMETRIOSIS, WE BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD NEVER CONCEIVE. I READ ABOUT BLESSED GIANNA WHILE I WAS IN AN ADORATION CHAPEL ON AUGUST 19, [2002]. AFTER FINISHING THE PAMPHLET, I ASKED BLESSED GIANNA TO INTERCEDE FOR US SO PATTY WOULD BECOME PREGNANT. THREE WEEKS LATER, ON SEPTEMBER 11, [2002] PATTY TOOK A PREGNANCY TEST AND SHE WAS, IN FACT, PREGNANT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT BLESSED GIANNA’S INTERCESSION ALLOWED US TO BECOME PREGNANT.â€
BY DARREN G.
ONE YEAR LATER, JOE CUNNINGHAM, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY OF THEN BLESSED GIANNA, WAS INVITED TO ST PETER'S CHURCH IN NEWARK, DELAWARE TO GIVE A TALK AT A LUNCHEON. AS JOE LIKES TO TALK A LOT ABOUT ST GIANNA, HE KIDDINGLY ASKED THAT NOBODY INTERRUPT HIM. SUDDENLY, A COUPLE STOOD UP IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM OF 200 PERSONS TO INTERRUPT JOE'S TALK! DARREN AND PATTY WANTED TO PRESENT THEIR DAUGHTER GIANNA TO EVERYONE AND TO PUBLICLY THANK GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA FOR PRAYING TO GOD FOR THEM.
By: Darren and Patty G. (and Joe Cunningham)
Testimony 171
PROBLEMS WITH BABY IN UTERO
“I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THE STORY OF OUR MIRACLE WITH YOU. OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER, COLLEEN, WAS PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND CHILD LAST FALL WHEN SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BABY. THRU AN ULTRASOUND, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS 20WEEK OLD FETUS HAD A MASS GROWING OUT THE BACK OF ITS NECK. IT ALSO HAD AN ARTERY COMING OFF THE MAIN ARTERY IN ITS NECK FEEDING THIS MASS BLOOD. THIS PUT STRESS ON THE BABY’S HEART. WHILE A NORMAL BABY’S HEART TAKES UP 50% OF ITS CHEST, HER BABY’S WAS AT 68%. COLLEEN WAS TOLD BY THE DOCTORS AT CHOP [CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA] THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THAT THEY DID NOT EXPECT THE BABY TO MAKE IT TO 30 WEEKS, THEY EXPECTED THE BABY WOULD GO INTO CARDIAC ARREST DUE TO THE STRESS. SHE WAS MONITORED WEEKLY BY DOCTORS AT ST MARY’S HOSPITAL AND ALSO AT CHOP. BY CHRISTMAS WEEK THE MASS HAD DOUBLED AND WAS HALF THE SIZE OF THE BABY’S HEAD. THE PROGNOSIS WAS NOT GOOD AND AT THAT POINT THE DOCTORS DID NOT HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION FOR WHAT TO DO IF THE BABY WERE TO BE BORN. ANYWAY, TO MAKE THE REST OF THE STORY SHORT, COLLEEN DELIVERED A LITTLE GIRL BY SCHEDULED CSECTION ON FEBRUARY 28TH DOWN AT UNIVERSITY OF PA HOSPITAL AND OUR LITTLE GIANNA HAD SURGERY 3 DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE MASS REMOVED. BOTH MOTHER AND BABY ARE NOW HOME AND RECOVERING BEAUTIFULLY. COLLEEN PRAYED TO ST GIANNA DAILY AFTER THE BABY’S DIAGNOSIS LAST NOVEMBER AND VISITED YOUR SHRINE THE NIGHT BEFORE HER DELIVERY. WE HAD NOT EVEN HEARD OF THIS SAINT UNTIL OUR REQUEST FOR PRAYER TURNED UP A PRAYER CARD. WHAT A WONDERFUL SAINT SHE IS! THE POWER OF PRAYER IS TRULY AMAZING!!â€
By: Dennis and Ann Quinn
Testimony 172
PREGNANCY
“I HAVE ENCLOSED A PICTURE OF A BABY GIRL, GRACE SAVANNAH LANIER, BORN JULY 19TH, 2005. I WANTED TO SHARE THE TESTIMONY OF MR. AND MRS. ROBERT LANIER. THEY HAD THEIR FIRST CHILD IN 1999 AND THEY STARTED TRYING TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY LAST YEAR (2004). THEY GOT PREGNANT AND LOST THE BABY TO A MISCARRIAGE. AFTER THE MASS IN NOVEMBER WITH THE RELIC OF ST. GIANNA AND THE PRAYER WITH HER GLOVES, HER HUSBAND, WHO NEVER CRIES, BEGAN TO CRY. MRS. LANIER GOT PREGNANT WITH GRACE RIGHT AFTER. THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A MASS LIKE THAT BEFORE. THEY BELIEVE ST. GIANNA INTERCEDED FOR THEM AS THEY PRAYED THE PRAYER ON THE CARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RELIC OF ST GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA HERE AGAIN.â€
By: Rev. Michael Snyder, Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, Mississippi
Testimony 173
LITTLE AMNIOTIC FLUID. BABY NOT GROWING COUNTRY OF MEXICO
TenÃa 5 meses de embarazo, y mi utero estaba muy delgado y
I WAS 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY UTERUS WAS VERY THIN
no tenÃa casi irrigación hacia la bebé, la niña no estaba creciendo,
I SCARCELY HAD ANY AMNIOTIC FLUID FOR THE BABY, AND THE LITTLE GIRL WAS NOT GROWING, OR DEVELOPING.
no se desarrollaba. Entonces mi esposo encontró a Sta. Gianna y conocimos su historia, le pedimos todos los dÃa por la bebé y le prometimos llamarla como ella si es que se lograba, en un par de ocasiones el doctor nos dijo que habÃa que sacar a la bebé de mi utero y tratar de lograla artificialmente.
THEN MY HUSBAND HEARD OF SAINT GIANNA AND WE
LEARNED HER STORY, WE PRAYED TO HER EVERY DAY FOR THE BABY AND PROMISED TO NAME HER AFTER THE SAINT IF THE BIRTH WERE SUCCESSFUL. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE DOCTOR TOLD US THAT HE HAD TO REMOVE THE BABY FROM MY
UTERUS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO TRY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
Nosotros nos negamos porque confiamos en que
Sta. Gianna intercederÃa por la bebé, y a sà fue, en un mes la bebé
creció todo lo que no habÃa crecido los últimos tres meses, incluso
nacio pesando 3 kilos 200 gramos, es una niña saludable y feliz y se llama Gianna Raisa.
WE REFUSED IT BECAUSE WE TRUSTED THAT SAINT GIANNA
WOULD INTERCEDE FOR THE BABY, AND SO IT WAS, WITHIN A MONTH THE BABY GREW THE AMOUNT THAT SHE HAD NOT GROWN FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS. SHE
WAS BORN WEIGHING THREE KILOGRAMS AND 200
GRAMS, SHE IS A HAPPY AND HEALTHY BABY AND HER NAME IS GIANNA RAISA.
Document Available : si, los ecosonogramas, el doctor mismo dijo que fue un milagro. YES, THE ECHO SONOGRAMS, THE DOCTOR HIMSELF SAID THAT IT WAS A MIRACLE.
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession (translated by Joe Cunningham)
By: Larissa, Country of Mexico
Testimony 174
DANGEROUS PREGNANCY
IT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO THAT MY BROTHER HAD SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO INFORM US THAT HIS DAUGHTER, MY NIECE ROSE, WAS 3 MONTHS PREGNANT AND HAD BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A CYST/POCKET THAT CONTAINED A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF BLOOD. OF COURSE, THE ONLY OPTION THE DOCTOR GAVE MY NIECE WAS TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY. THE DOCTOR WENT OVER THE COMPLICATIONS IF SHE CHOSE TO KEEP HER BABY. WITHIN TIME, THE CYST/POCKET OF BLOOD WOULD RUPTURE, THE BABY WOULD DIE AND THEN MY NIECE ROSE WOULD FOLLOW. SHE HAD MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER, ONE BEING HER 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND HER NEW ENGAGEMENT. BUT, TO MY NIECE, SHE WOULD NOT END HER PREGNANCY; SHE WOULD TRUST THE LORD AND HIS WILL FOR HER LIFE. SHE WAS GOING TO BEGIN A VIDEO JOURNAL FOR HER DAUGHTER AND WOULD MARRY HER FIANCÉ WHO WOULD ADOPT HER DAUGHTER AND LEAVE THE REST IN THE HANDS OF GOD. I PRINTED THE NOVENA TO ST. GIANNA AND SENT IT OUT TO EVERYONE I KNEW. THE NEWS WAS DEVASTATING TO MY BROTHER AND SISTERINLAW AND WE WERE ALL HEARTBROKEN BUT, PROUD TO HEAR THAT SHE WOULD DIE FIRST RATHER THAN KILL HER UNBORN BABY. IN THE MEANTIME, MORE DEVASTATING NEWS FOLLOWED. HER BROTHER, MY NEPHEW ROBERT ANTHONY, DIED IN A FIRE IN BEIJING, CHINA. I SAW MY BROTHER'S LIFE COME TO A HALT: HIS DAUGHTER AND NOW HIS SON. I ASKED MY NIECE IF HER ROBERT ANTHONY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HER. SHE SAID, "NO". WE WERE TOLD THAT HE LIVED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND HIS HEART JUST CAME TO A STOP. I TOLD MY NIECE THAT I REALLY BELIEVED THAT HE MADE THAT DECISION WITH GOD TO GO IN HER PLACE BUT, ONLY TIME AND HER FOLLOWING ULTRASOUND WOULD REVEAL THIS TO US ALL. WELL, THE FEASTDAY OF ST. GIANNA WAS ON TUESDAY [4/28/09] AND ROSE'S ULTRASOUND WOULD BE ON THURSDAY. THE RESULTS SHOWED THE CYST WAS TOTALLY GONE! SHE FOLLOWED UP IN THE AFTERNOON WITH HER DOCTOR WHO ASKED THAT THEM IMMEDIATELY FAX OVER THE RESULTS. THE DOCTOR WAS DUMBFOUNDED; SHE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. BUT WE ALL KNEW. WE CRIED, AND THANKED OUR WONDERFUL ST. GIANNA FOR HER POWERFUL INTERCESSION AND PRAISED THE LORD FOR HIS ABUNDANT GRACE.
By: Melinda, Fresno, TX
Testimony 175
COINCIDENCES FROM GOD!
This is Joe Cunningham, President of the Society of Saint Gianna. On Jan.22, 2009 I traveled to the March for Life in Washington, DC with a tapestry containing the photo of Saint Gianna and her son Pierluigi. The wind was blowing and my arms were sore from holding the tapestry all day, but I was a driven person, wanting to tell everyone about our Saint. I remember a lady from Virginia coming up and taking a photo of the tapestry. Little did I know what would happen later..... Here's a story from our fellow Board Member from the Feastday Mass on April 28th, 2009 in Warminster, Pennsylvania: "A woman approached the table to venerate the gloves and looked at the tapestry behind us in church. She asked if the tapestry, or a large photo just like it, had been in Washington, DC for the March for Life. I told her that it had been in DC for the March. She said that her daughter could not get pregnant and she [the mother] took a photo of the picture of our Beloved Gianna and gave it to her daughter to venerate and to pray to conceive a child. Her daughter did this and she became pregnant. She is due in November. The evening of the Feast Day, I took her photo, with her family, in front of the tapestry".
By: Joe Cunningham+Maryellen White
Testimony 176
PREGNANT LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE
I am a labor and delivery nurse and during the summer of 2007 I was pregnant with my second child. I had just started a new job working in pediatric hospice part time days. During the transition, I was inspired by St. Gianna, because she worked as a pediatrician and still managed her family. So that was the beginning of my sense of St. Gianna being with me spiritually throughout my pregnancy. I found out around 67 months that my unborn baby had a complex heart defect known as tetralogy of fallot, and that after she was born she would need open heart surgery to repair this. Needless to say throughout my pregnancy I encountered, many doubts and fears and extreme anxiety from the constant testing, and wondering and waiting. Almost everyday I cried and told God how scared I was of the unknown, and known. Being a nurse made it worse since I had more understanding of what could potentially happen(like St. Gianna). At 34 weeks I began bleeding, I ended up on bedrest and at 36 weeks was induced for IUGR, conincidentally, it was discovered the same day that I had gone into preeclampsia. This whole time I had been praying for healing and yet everything had gone wrong. It culminated with an emergency csection for a placental abruption during induction. Ironically, the reason for my induction(that the baby wasn't growingbased on ultrasound) was wrong, but the othermy blood pressure came out of nowhere and was the real problemthat was definitely God being a safety net. I never got to see my baby after birth, we were separated for almost 2 days, because of her being tested and my bad state after losing so much blood. My baby was born on Sept. 28th, the eve of the feast of the archangels, we knew her name would be Gianna Rafaela before she was born, but until the events unfolded we didn't know just how significant her name would be. I later found out Gianna was a form of John and St. John of God is the patron of heart problems, Rafaela means God heals and the day she was born coincided with St. Rafael. I truly believe that although God didn't take away these crosses, these little "signs" were His and His saints ways of letting us know they are near, praying and supporting us with graces to do what God is asking of us. My little Giann had surgery Jan. 4 of 2008, is little but is doing fine, and is spunky as all heck! Thank You St. Gianna for your example to mothers, I love you.
Testimony 177
PANCREATIC CANCER
I was pregnant with my third child when my dad was dying of Pancreatic Cancer. He was in the hospital bleeding internally. The doctors did not think he would make it. Two individuals came to the hospital with St. Gianna's relic gloves which they placed on my dad and on my belly. My dad recovered and lived long enough to meet and spend time with my daughter. My dad wanted to watch my daughter grow but knew he would not be able to. I believe my dad recovered, gained weight and lived seven additional months because of St. Gianna.
Testimony 178
INFERTILITY
My son Joseph Michael is about to turn 1 year old. He is a child that was conceived after I visited St. Gianna shrine, prayed daily and touched the gloves to my abdomen. We had not luck for 11 months and the 12th month he was conceived. I have been praying and telling people about St. Gianna ever since.
Testimony 179
LOW AMNIOTIC FLUID
I am the mother of four beautiful children. During my fifth pregnancy, after having miscarried pregnancy number 4, it was determined that I was developing antibodies to the blood of my unborn child. I had to consult with experts at Johns Hopkins, who closely monitored my pregnancy. The concern was that the unborn child could go into fetal distress and/or suffer heart failure. I prayed to St. Gianna for the safety of the child. The last ultrasound showed slightly lower amniotic fluid. Several days later, during a routine checkup one week before the due date, my ob/gyn decided to do another ultra sound. He said the amniotic fluid was low but that it was not an emergency situation. He decided to induce labor that evening anyway. When he went to break my water there was none! The child was born 12:08 a.m. on Dec. 27th, 2002 (St. John's feast day) in perfect health. We named her Gianna Marie (after St. John, St. Gianna and the Blessed Mother). I found out several years later that the child whose miracle was used for the canonization of St. Gianna was named Gianna Maria, and her mother had no amniotic fluid in her fifth month, yet still gave birth to a healthy baby!
Testimony 180
DELIVERY COMPLICATIONS GLOVES ARE WARM!
Jan 7, 2004 I was in the hospital to deliver my baby. The pregnancy was normal, the delivery had complications. My daughter lost most of her blood, we didn't know if she would live or what kind of damage might have been done. My husband, Pietro, and I decided to call her Gianna and prayed for the best. We had liked the name and choose it because we like the meaning. A few days later, on Jan 11, my sister went to Mass at a church and time which was different from what she normally attends. There was a presentation at that church. My sister touched the gloves, asked for prayers, and brought relics to the hospital for myself and my daughter. The relics felt so warm to me. Nobody else could feel the warmth. When my sister explained the story of Gianna and of the gloves, I knew it was a sign. My husband and I immediately went to the nursery, touched the gloves to my daughter's hands, and left it in her crib in the NICU. I am happy to report that our beautiful Gianna will be four and has no side effects of the blood loss. I still pray to St. Gianna daily and thank God we have our Gianna in our lives.
Testimony 181
PREGNANCY
I have a very wonderful story with St. Gianna and would be happy to share it. Two years ago my husband and I conceived our first baby. I chose the name Gianna for a girl. At that time I didn't even know that a St. Gianna existed. I just liked the name. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
Last spring we found out we were pregnant again. We were told by the doctors that pregnancy too would result in a miscarriage. I was so upset and I didn't even know how to handle my emotions. I just prayed for God to help me through it and to make me strong. It was a couple weeks before Easter and I was on a Catholic website searching for Easter gifts. To my surprise, I stumbled across St. Gianna! I couldn't believe my eyes. After reading about her and finding out that she helps mothers with troubled pregnancies, I knew that God had answered my prayers and sent me a special angel to help me through my troubled time. I then found out that the St. Gianna shrine was about an hour away from my house. I visited the very next weekend with my mother. Unfortunately, that pregnancy could not be saved but I had a new found strength through St. Gianna.
Last summer I started to see a specialist and he informed me that I had a very large fibroid on my uterus that could be preventing me from carrying a baby full term. I remembered St. Gianna and the uterine fibroid that she had. I again, found great strength in her as I went through surgery to have it removed. I pray to St. Gianna daily and have been since she was sent to me. I found out this weekend that I am pregnant again. It is very, very early in my pregnancy so I am not out of the woods yet. I will be visiting the shrine again this weekend and will continue to pray to St. Gianna for this pregnancy to last.
I calculated my due date on the internet and to my surprise it said April 28th, St. Gianna's feast day!!!!
I believe that when you pray to God, you have to be open to the way he answers your prayers. I think that he answered my prayers by leading me to St. Gianna.
Testimony 182
CONTEMPLATING ABORTION
One day I was walking along the road heading toward a Planned Parenthood to kill an innocent life, when I ran into Gianna. She just talked to me, as if she had no idea what I was about to do. We sat there talking about life, and about children and how they are extremely important to the sanity of others. I then decided, without ever talking to her about it directly, that aborting my fetus was not the right decsion. Then I became a more devout Catholic.
Document Available : no
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession
Testimony 183
THREE WOMEN; THREE PREGNANCIES
My niece, her sisterinlaw and a mother in my school were all pregnant. My niece had a miscarriage, her sisterinlaw gave birth to still born twins and the woman in my school had a miscarriage. I gave the three of them the prayer card for St. Gianna. The first to have a baby was the woman who had given birth to still born twins. She had a little girl and called her Paige. The second to have a baby was the woman from my school who gave birth the day before Gianna's birthday. She named the baby Gianna in honor of St. Gianna. The third one to have a baby was my niece who gave birth in November. She named her baby Alexandra. All three women prayed to St. Gianna and all three women had little girls!
Testimony 184
DOWN'S SYNDROME?
I was pregnant in 1999 with my fourth child. I took a routine blood test which indicated that our baby may have Down's Syndrome. My husband and I asked St. Gianna to pray for our baby, that she be healthy. We were given an option of terminating the pregnancy but that was absolutely not an option for us. It didn't matter if the baby had Down's or not, healthy or not; she was a gift from God. Anna was born in March 2000. Yet, she had a single crease in the palm of her hand. The pediatrician told us that the crease is a trait of Down's children and suggested that Anna could have a mild case of Down's. A blood test indicated that her chromosone count was normal. Did Anna have Down\'s and was it reverse in utero? Possibly but who knows? We have a beautiful, healthy child. The whole experience was very humbling. We thank St. Gianna for her prayers. To this day 6 yr. old, Anna, shows everyone her "special line" from God.
Testimony 185
PROBLEMS DURING PREGNANCY
Hello I submitted this testimony via email in 2004 before the advent of this website. Today I would like to resubmit my original testimony for the benefit of all. Thank you. I would like to take the time to write in my own testimonial to a favor received on the behalf of Saint Gianna. On Feb 9th 2004 a friend of mine, M., called me to let me know she was unexpectedly pregnant. She was very happy about it, to say the least. In that conversation she told me about her previous pregnancies that she never told me before. This was her 6th pregnancy. Between the 5 previous pregnancies there were 6 children. At this time she only has one living son who was 7 and a half. He was born at 22 weeks is legally blind and has other disabilities. She did not have high hopes for this child making it to full term, but was optimistic nonetheless. That day I decided to begin a novena for the sake of herself, her family and her unborn baby. Also, that same day, I went to my parish and asked for a mass to be said that month for them all as well. My personal intention for the mass was that she and the baby “make it†to the next month. While in the parish chapel beginning my novena a priest of the parish, Fr Matt, walked in. I told him about M. and her baby. The two of us prayed together for them and I asked him to remember them in his prayers. Yet, I felt the need to do more. I decide to make a novena for her and the baby, every month beginning on the 9th of the month, the anniversary of the day she told me she was pregnant. In addition to that I went back to my parish to arrange for another monthly mass, after the previous one had already been said, with the same personal intention – may they make it another month. I decided to continue in this manner for a total of nine months from February to October. Using a book of Novena prayers as I guide I composed a novena prayer to Gianna. “O Blessed,Saint Gianna, intercede before God with my petition. Be it his will, not mine, that my friend M’s pregnancy proceed to full term. May the child be delivered healthy and without blemish. It is you O gracious Gianna that understands difficult pregnancies. May the blessings of Almighty God rain down on the A family. I ask this in the name of Jesus my Lord, Amen.†As time went on, despite difficulties and worries that this pregnancy would end like all the rest, my friend’s pregnancy continued. At various times her doctors tried to convince her to allow them to deliver the baby. During the month of August she had continued problems with her blood pressure. She consistently refused as long as the baby was not in distress. Considering the possibility that she could still deliver early the doctors administered cortisone shots to mature the baby’s lungs. On August 20th it was decided to deliver the baby via caesarian section due to M’s condition. This was about her 34th to 35th week. Amanda Marie weighed in at 4 pounds, 13 ounces, did not need any extraordinary medical intervention and roomed in with mom from the first moment. I had the remaining masses, that were to be said after her birth, said as Masses of Thanksgiving. After she was born I asked my friend what she, or her doctors, could attribute to her and Amanda’s success. She said she and the doctors had no idea. Today I finished the 9th day of the 9th Novena and in recognition of this I am sending you my testimonial.
Testimony 186
COLON CANCER
May 5, 2006 My nephew, Todd, in his mid thirties, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a couple of years ago. Our local parish, St. Joseph's was hosting a special presentation about the life of Blessed Gianna and her gloves were there as a part of this program. I went up to place my hands on her gloves and I asked her to pray for my nephew, who was so sick and....through her intercessions to our Lord, to make him well again. Todd had major surgery, followed by radiation and chemo and today he is 100 percent cured from stage 4 colon cancer! I am convinced, Blessed Gianna helped to save his life.
Todd is alive and cancerfree!
By: Rebecca
Testimony 187
PHYSICIAN PRAYS TO ST GIANNA
I am a physician, a specialist in the foot and ankle, and during my professional career I have encountered many couples who cannot conceive. Today my 8:00am patient was young lady presenting for an initial consult. Her husband accompanied her. The patient was in need of having a procedure on her foot, but was not sure if she was pregnant. I began to take her medical history and among other things, she suffered from years of gyn procedures for endometriosis and infertility. I advised her that I would need a pregnancy test prior to performing any procedure. I performed the urine pregnancy myself and waited ten minutes; my nurse was present with me. (The usual time for a urine pregnancy test is no more than five minutes, but I was hopeful for this patient so waited ten minutes)The test was negative. As I informed the patient, she appeared very sad, but not surprised. Despite the negative pregnancy result, I decided to proceed with conservative treatment and not the surgical procedure. Shortly after the patient left the office, I said a prayer to St. Gianna to look over this young lady, and requested St. Gianna to intercede for this couple so they may be blessed with a child. I proceeded to see my morning patients. At 11:15am my nurse burst into my office extremely astonished and excited. She blurted "Doctor, doctor, you're not going to believe this...that pregnancy test from this morning was still in the lab and as I proceeded to discard it, I noticed it was positive; the patient has a positive pregancy test!" I responded, GOD is good and thank you St. Gianna. I had this overwhelming feeling of awe and had no doubt in my mind that St. Gianna interceded for this young lady. I telephoned the patinet to advise her and as she heard the good news, she broke into tears. I am not sure of this women's religious beliefs but you can be certain that when she returns for followup, she will hear the story of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.
By: (physician)
Testimony 188
CONFIRMATION NAME
Two weeks ago, the man whom I thought I would marry, broke it off with me. I was heartbroken. The following Sunday, I had the opportunity to touch the gloves of St. Gianna. A sense of peace and healing instantly came over me. I am confident that St. Gianna will lead me to the right man so that I may become as devoted a wife and mother as she was. I am about to complete my adult Confirmation, and I have selected Gianna as my Confirmation name in thanks and reverence to her.
Testimony 189
"THE NIGHT ST. GIANNA CAME TO OUR PRAYER GROUP"
I am inspired to write this story of feeling Gianna's holy and special touch. It was on 10/19/03 that the parish of St. Philip Neri in Lafayette Hill, [outside Philadelphia] had veneration of St. Gianna's gloves. It was so wonderful. I went with my youngest daughter. About a year later after that I was at St. Philip Neri's prayer group on a Thursday night and I noticed a new person who had come to the group Elisa. I knew her from my high school days at Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School, but I have not seen around for almost 3 years. She had moved to the New York area. One of the ladies, Loretta, in the prayer group to the morning Mass and was prompted by Jesus to ask Elisa (whom she did not know) to the prayer group. She did not know why Our Lord had to ask Loretta 3 times to invite this woman she did not know. Loretta who is usually shy found it difficult, but did this in obedience. Elisa accepted the invitation and came that night. Our group started with the rosary. As we started the rosary I saw and recognized Elisa, I smiled to welcome her. During the rosary I was shown an image of an elderly woman with white hair holding a baby. There were many angels in a circle protecting the child with heavenly weapons pointing as if in protection. I had the understanding that this was the grandparent of the baby and through her prayers the baby was protected by dangers of the outside world. The prayers represented the Angels with heavenly weapons protecting as prayers would. As I shared in faith to the prayer group what I was shown, Elisa started to shake her head and smile and pointed her finger. She took several seconds of quiet and then shared a beautiful story about her when her daughter Elizabeth was expecting her second child. Elizabeth had been about to deliver her second child and the doctors were very concerned for the baby's health, they were worried about the baby's heart. Elisa shared with the group that her daughter's first child was born the color of a purple Easter egg, so she was really worried with this birth of her new grandchild. So, Elisa started to pray when in the waiting room came in the other grandmother(the father's mother). The two grandmothers hugged as they prayed and awaited their new grandchild. The other grandmother whispered and told Elisa that she just came from Elizabeth's hospital room and I slipped a relic of saint under the mattress without Elizabeth's knowledge. She said, "I don't know the the saint's name. I forgot they had her things at the church. So the grandmother's prayed together for the baby to be born healthy. Labor went well and the baby girl was a beautiful healthy little girl with no heart problems. The father of the baby said in the delivery room, the name "Gianna is coming to me, we will name her "Gianna". Afterwards the two grandmothers went to the mattress to see the saint that was placed and it St. Gianna's relic that had touched the gloves at St. Philip Neri. They were so astounded, and prayed in thanksgiving. Well, as I sat there listening to this miracle story. It then dawned on me that it was so ironic that it was Loretta who invited Elisa to the prayer group that night. Because it was Loretta who was the one responsible for getting the gloves of St. Gianna to the the church. As I shared this just then another member jumped up and screamed with excitement, "I was the nurse that rubbed holy water on your daughter in the hospital. "I remember it well" See it was all so connected, we were all amazed. St. Gianna's presence was so strong, and she wanted to thank and let Loretta know the fruits of her effort to bring her gloves to their parish. And Elisa was able to thank Loretta also for being the one to arrange for glove to come that helped her granddaughter. Then Elisa also thanked Merlinda for help in prayers and faith. The women all talked and were amazed of how they did not really know each other but for some reason were brought together on this night. Elisa was from New York and was visiting her daughter and had come to St. Philip's church at Mass that morning in thanksgiving of the miracle received through the intercession of St. Gianna. I was blessed two days after prayer group in meeting the miracle baby at a family party. Elisa was not there so I would not have never known the beautiful story connected to the baby or that it was her granddaughter. For it was her daughter's friends who came to me about hearing the story about what happened at our prayer group and they asked if I wanted to see baby Gianna? I was able to hold her and thank Jesus for using St. Gianna to heal this beautiful special baby girl. Even if we tried, I don't think it would have been possible to set up all the connections I had seen. It was a most powerful and most memorable night. The night St. Gianna came to show us the power of prayer and her saintly intercession from heaven, Thank You St. Gianna.
By: Bee Johnson
Testimony 190
INFERTILITY
Thank you St. Gianna for the safe and healthy birth of our daughter, Gianna Rose, on February 20, 2006. In 2003 Gianna's older brother, Derek, was born to eternal life the day after his earthly birth. Following Derek's passing, we were told by our infertility doctor that a subsequent pregnancy was unlikely. However, after touching St. Gianna's relics and praying for her intercession, I became pregnant without requiring an ovarian cyst aspiration as had been previously done in attempts to conceive Derek. Ultimately, our prayers were answered with the safe and healthy arrival of our baby daughter. Thank you St. Gianna for your intercession and for God's living miracles!
Testimony 191
INFERTILITY
My husband and I desperately wanted a baby. I had two miscarriages that were incredibly difficult on us. My mother gave introduced me to St. Gianna. She gave me a prayer card and a brief biography. Her story was inspiring. I began to pray to St. Gianna, asking for a baby. In May of 2005 we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl. We named her Gianna Mary Frances. We have her prayer card in the nursery and I continue to pray to St. Gianna with my daughter.
Document Available :
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession
Testimony 192
HIGH RISK PREGNANCY
I learned about St. Gianna back in Sept.2004. I had a miscarriage.I have a 10 yr. old.I finally had gotten pregnant.A dear friend told me to pray to St.Gianna and she would help me.In JanauryIwas pregnant.I was high risk due to my age and history of my first pregnany.We decided not to have any tests done to check for birth defects because this was already a miracle. Then at 35 weeks at one of my many ultrasounds the doctor informed me that the baby had fluid in the ventricles and that at this late stage of the pregnancy it was impossible it would dissolve. The count was at 11, two days later it had risen to 12. The doctor mad an appointment to speak to both my husband and I to explain all the risk factors and what it meant for our baby, we were devasted, everything was going so well and now at the end this devasting news. I had been praying to St. Gianna althrough the pregnacy and also considering naming my child after her if it were a girl.That weekend a dear who is a priest brought my husband a present to give to me knowing I was almost due. The Life of St. Gianna Molla, my husband read the book that night from cover to cover that weekend was also St. Cosmo and St. Damian\'s feast day, my husband\'s grandfather was devoted to them. That Sunday we went to the Shrine and recieved a special blessing. That Monday I was sceduled for another ultrasound, plans had been made for a neurologist to be present during my deliver to establish how much brain damage our precious gift had. The same nurse wanted to test me, she looked at me and said,\" Seven, I can\'t believe it went down to seven,let me get the doctor,\" the doctor came in and said that at this late stage she had never seen this. I hope you believe in miracles, it couldn\'t have happened to a nicer person. My first thought was THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU SAINT GIANNA. On October 10, 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Yes, Gianna. impossible that it would desolve. The count was at 11. Two days later I went back to the hospital and the count was rising it had elevated to 12. The doctor made an appointment with my husband and I to explain all of the risk factors and what it actually ment for our baby, we were devasted, everything was going so great and now such bad news at the end.I had been praying to St. Gianna and also considering naming my child after her throughtout the entire pregnancy if it was a girl. That weekend a dear friend, who is a priest brought my husband a special gift to give me, knowing I was almost due, The life of Saint Gianna Molla. My husband sat up all night and read cover to cover, that weekend was also the feast of St Cosmo and ST. Damian, my husbands grandfather in Italy was devoted to them, that Sunday we went to Shrine and also recieved a special blessing. That Monday I was sceduled for another ultrasound, plans had been made by our doctor to have a neurologist present when I delivered to establish the amount of brain damage our precious gift had. The same nurse wanted to do the test, she looked at me and said \"seven I can\'t believe this, it went down to seven, don\'t move I\'ll get the doctor.\" When the doctor came in she said at this late state of the pregnacy she has never seen this, I hope you believe in miracles. My first thought was THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU ST. GIANNA. Two days later when tested again the fluid had completely desolved, and the doctor said she spoke to the neurologist and he said it was very rare that such a thing would occur at 36 weeks. On October 10, 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Yes, Gianna.
Document Available : Could get records from the hospital
Option Selected: I grant the Society of St Gianna the permission to edit and post my intercession
Testimony 193
PRETERM LABOR WITH TWINS
I have experienced so much in praying to St. Gianna. In November of 2001, I lost twin sons at 20 weeks to an infection. The following May, when I announced my second pregnancy, a friend's mom gave me St. Gianna's information. I began praying to her right away. Joe came to visit me when I was 18 weeks pregnant and let me hold onto a relic from Gianna. 20 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy, I began to develop complications again. At 24 weeks, I was admitted to the hospital with preterm labor. They had the NICU doctors come and try to prepare my husband and me for the very premature birth of our 2nd set of twins. The doctors thought there was no way they would be able to stop the labor. I prayed to Gianna constantly during my 8 week hospital stay. Through several bouts of preterm labor Gianna came through each time. I was sent home at 32 weeks with the doctors completely stunned that I had made it that far. At home, I continued to pray to Gianna for healthy babies. My twins were delivered at 36 weeks absolutely fine! That was 3 years ago and my doctors still say it was a miracle. I have met several other girls who have had various complications, and to every one, I tell Gianna's story and give them her prayer cards. I am now pregnant again (another miracle!) and Gianna is the first saint I pray to every night. I can truly feel her watching over and protecting my unborn child.
Testimony 194
CANCER
February 28, 2006 On February 2, the gloves of Saint Gianna were take to a woman in Philadelphia with cancer. The woman just underwent tests and the cancer is gone
By: Jim, Warminster, PA
Testimony 195
MULTIPLE MISCARRIAGES
My Wife & I had our first child in 2000. After our first child we had 3 miscarriages including twins so we lost a total of 4 children. The doctor thought that we might not be able to have children any more but we decided to try again. My wife got pregnant again but had many difficulties. She was put on bed rest in her 3rd month as she was having contractions. We were told of St Gianna by my cousin Marie who herself had a miracle through St Gianna. We mailed for prayer cards & prayed to St Gianna every day for her intercession. The doctors thought the baby would be early & born in March. However, our little girl made it full term & was born on the Feast Day of St Gianna, April 28th 2005. St Gianna truly interceded for us & we are forever greatful. Words cannot explain how blessed we are with our baby Megan Gianna. A special thanks to my: Cousin Marie Aunt Rose Sister Regina (Aunt) & to all who prayed for us And St Gianna whose intercession lead to a true miracle in our life
By: John, Aurora, Colorado
Testimony 196
INFERTILITY
My husband and I had been praying for almost 4 years for a child. As a teacher, I love children and wanted a big family. Doctors were puzzled by my infertility. A specialist told me that I may need exploratory surgery. I was depressed and scared. Then the day came that changed my life forever. I was cantoring at Sunday Mass on Mother's Day at Our Lady of Ransom. My grandmother and mother were also there to celebrate the day with me. The Society of Blessed Gianna just happened to give a presentation that day and my family and I were able to pray and touch the sacred gloves. It was the first time that I had heard of Blessed Gianna. From that day on, I felt hope. I knew that Gianna would hear my prayers. I prayed that my surgery would be successful and that God would send me a baby to love. In the meantime, Gianna became a saint. I bought a medal directly after it was struck and had it blessed by a wonderful priest friend. I bought books and read them and my husband and I prayed daily for the intercession of St. Gianna. Everyone prayed to St. Gianna for me, even my 3 year old niece! My surgery went better than expected, but I was told that I had severe endometriosis and that adhesions still remained in my body. The doctor was unsure of my fertility. To the surprise of the doctor, I became pregnant only 2 months after my surgery. My doctor, who is not Catholic, called it a miracle. He could not believe that I was able to conceive without any medical interventions so quickly. But I knew that St. Gianna had heard my cries for help and God answered me. I continued to wear the medal and carry her relic cards throughout my pregnancy and even while in labor. My pregnancy was wonderful I was never sick! In fact I felt the most healthy when carrying my baby. The baby was due on April 22, 2005. I was not surprised that the baby was due then Gianna died on the 28th, Gianna Emmanuela was born on the 21st, and Gianna was beatified on the 24th. Maybe this isn't a miracle to others, but in my heart, I know that St. Gianna was there for me and continues to watch over my family. I have been promoting Gianna to many friends who also had trouble conceiving. I prayed daily for them and gave them the St. Gianna relic cards. I am so pleased to report that my one friend has a healthy baby boy who is 5 months old, and another friend is expecting twins in April!! I feel that it is my calling to make others aware of the loving Gianna who reaches out to the depressed. I named my baby Erin Gianna and promise to teach her all about her patron saint. Erin Gianna was born on 41505 and I was able to take her to her feast day mass at Nativity on April 28. It was beautiful. Since then, I have also gone to the shrine as well as other parishes to venerate the gloves/relics and to get more relic cards that I continue to distribute to friends. Last week, I was lucky enough to go to a Mother's meeting at Our Lady of Good Counsel and hear the story of Gianna that I know so well. Erin Gianna and I were able to touch the gloves and the special stole from Gianna's canonization. I bought the 2 books and dvd that I did not have and loved reading and watching the movie. I am so touched by Gianna's life and the miracle that I received that I hope to help the society in some small way. Thank you and God bless you Jim and members of the society for making St. Gianna known to me.
By: AMS from PA
Testimony 197
TUBULAR PREGNANCY
January 22, 2006
During the early part of my pregnency, for a month the doctors were unsure if I was having a tubular pregnancy and they said that only time would tell. A friend had just heard of this new saint named St. Gianna who was the patron of the unborn and mothers. So my husband and I began to ask St. Gianna for her intersession. The pregnancy went on well and thankfully I did not have a tubular problem however I did have preclampsia towards the end and I wound up delivering 6 weeks early. Our daughter, Gianna turned out to be beautiful and healthy as can be. We owe our greaditude to God and to Saint Gianna! She truly is a wonderful and marvelous saint, who really does interceed. Our daughter Gianna should have had problems at birth being that she was so early and problems with development. But no she is absolutly perfect! Thank you Saint Gianna for all your interceeding
By: Jennifer, Tempe. AZ
Testimony 198
We so desired to increase our family size, and last Christmas Eve at Mass we prayed to the baby Jesus. Two months later, we found out we were expecting. We were thrilled. Despite for some typical pregnancy discomforts, everything went as it should. On May 23, 2003, we were nervous and excited that we were going to have our ultrasound! The ultrasound showed an absence of part of the brain. It seemed like hours that the tech spent on our child’s head. I felt so out of control. I wanted to run, but I was lying down with the probe on me, and felt trapped. We were then rushed into the doctors office, and we were abruptly told ' your baby has 'Andy Walker' which incidentally is 'Dandy Walker, I would later find out" and not to go off the deep end, our equipment here is very good, but we do think you need to find out about your options and alternatives. I know you are a nurse, so don't go home running to the computer to look this up. We would like you to see this group of docs.' I then said, this "Andy Walker, can be minimal problems with this too, some delays, walking disabilities, learning issues, but the baby will be ok, right?" Well, the look on the doctors eyes spoke volumes.
We then went to these 'special' doctors, and after having a week and a half to look into this disease, we felt we were prepared. We went to these docs because we knew that we were going to need special care for the rest of our pregnancy, and a second look at the brain. No other reason, and we felt we made that clear to the first doc. So this doc reconfirmed the Dandy Walker cyst, and we were then told (after he knew our plan would never be to terminate) that we had "five days to legally wrap this all up". He said, this abnormality could be anywhere from mild to severe mental retardation". I then said to being completely normal? He just looked at me...they must learn that look in med school... But they also sent us to yet another set of Docs, downtown. We got physically drained in one day, and thenagain, shot down with all bad news again...they then tell us that a chromosomal abnormality has caused this, and we should have an amniocentesis, as this would describe the course of the delivery, etc. I told them regardless, we would be saving our child. Another look...
So we turned immediately to prayer. We are well founded in our faith, but prayer sometimes escapes me, and my husband. At the same time this crisis was occurring, there was an article by the Blessed Gianna Society. My husband immediately went on line to find out more. We were all praying the novena, etc. Something changed. We started the Good fight. We would then have to be our daughters defender of Life. It seems like the medical professionals thought her potential outcome was dim. Jeff arranged a visit to our parish's chapel for the Blessed Gianna Society for a laying on of gloves. We all prayed the rosary and while I prayed, I held on to her gloves over Caitlin while I said the rosary. An unbelievable peace came over me. It was just an amazing experience, one we all celebrated together as a family.
So, not too much later, our daughter was born prematurely, something not associated with her Dandy Walker. One thing that was asked to me as soon as I arrived downtown"Did your baby move in utero? She seems very lethargic, and we have done so many things to her, and she did not fight..." Somehow indicating the same thing that the others had. Now, I having been discharged early from a C section, knew that I was my daughters advocate. In so many words, I reminded this doctor that Caitlin had been given this drug, and that drug, and almost died at birth, and then during the transport, we would all be lethargic if that happened to us.
We have struggled with weeks upon weeks of hospitalizations. The Blessed Gianna Society again came to visit we had a laying of gloves on Caitlin while Mr. Heinrich, Jeff and I and a close nurse to her prayed the novena.
We currently have no indications that this Dandy Walker has begun to stir. What we currently deal with are sick lungs, related to being in Respiratory Distress at birth. So, in a way, God prepared us for a journey, and we accepted a journey, we just thought it would down a different path, and a longer one at that. You see, her sick lungs will heal, and get better. She will grow, and new lung tissue will form. We know that the Dandy Walker could become a problem, but deep down we are convinced that she is going to be more than ok!!
Sorry this has taken so long. Do you need any more? As you are aware, there is a lot more. I know you have to shorten this; I just thought I needed to mention many of these aspects.
May God bless you for your ministry. We are thrilled to know we are being prayed for and supported during this time. Let me know if there is anything we could do for you. I mean that!!!!
Sincerely, Colleen
By: Colleen, Bucks County, PA
Testimony 199
AMNIOTIC FLUID PROBLEMS
July 13, 2005
We are having a great summer. My baby, Andrea is now 11 weeks old and getting quite chubby, she was only 5 lbs 6 ounces at birth so her 11+ pounds seems huge. She was induced 2 1/2 weeks early due to amniotic fluid levels. The levels were very low earlier in the pregnancy at 30 weeks prior to seeing you in the chapel, March 22, 2005, at Bethlehem Catholic High School. After we were there, my fluid level improved enough so that I did not have to deliver a premature infant. All of my family was praying to Saint Gianna during the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy, and I am thankful my condition improved enough to hold off the delivery for those 8 weeks. Andrea was by far my easiest delivery and recovery. I was up and around as soon as I came home from the hospital.
All of the kids were thrilled to have a sister and they all love her so much. My boys are 5 and 7 years old and Heather is now 16. We had Andrea baptized on Father's Day. Heather was very excited to be her little sister's God Mother. Not many people get to do that for a younger sibling. It is nice to have children so far apart. Watching them interact with the baby without being jealous is wonderful. Thanks for asking Heather to bring me to the chapel and introducing our family to Saint Gianna.
God Bless you,
Carol
By: Carol, Bethlehem, PA
Testimony 200
IMMUNE DISORDER CLARE, AGE 3
January 5, 2004
I am writing you to share the wonderful story of Blessed Gianna’s intercession on behalf of my daughter Clare. Clare is a bright and happy fouryear old. She has a gentle spirit. She is truly just a joy. More than a year ago we began to notice that Clare was getting sick on a regular basis. We began to keep track of her illnesses and discovered that she was getting ill about every fourteen to twenty one days. She would get your runofthemill things like colds and ear infections but also get some odd things like mastoiditis (an infection of the jawbone). With each illness, her main complaint was the sores that she would get on the inside of her mouth. These sores would range in size from the size of pinhead to the size of a thumbtack. These sores were very painful. During each occurrence she could not eat or sleep or drink anything but water. She wanted to be held for hours on end. So for about 10 days every month her illnesses dominated her life and the lives of her parents and siblings.
We began to see an immune specialist in Philadelphia to determine why our little girl was getting sick so often. Copious amounts of blood were drawn. It was determined that Clare was suffering from some immune disorder. We went back to the specialist four weeks later to get further blood work done so that we could actually get a medical diagnosis for her disorder and find out the best treatment. These tests too suggested an immune problem.
We were waiting for a final diagnosis when something amazing happened. We went to mass as a family on a Saturday evening in September which happened to be a night a representative from the Blessed Gianna Society was there to speak. We were told the story of Gianna and were invited to touch some articles of her clothing. When my daughter touched Blessed Gianna’s glove, she dropped it back into my hands and exclaimed that it "felt hot " With tears in my eyes, I instinctively touched my little girls face and asked Blessed Gianna to intercede for us. As we left church that day, my husband Michael, and I couldn’t help but wonder "what if".
Life went on in our household. With three small children, the days went by in a blur. I didn’t give the events of that day much thought. I would add a quick prayer to Blessed Gianna into my daily prayers but that was about all. We did notice, however, that Clare was not getting sick as often and the blisters did not accompany the occasional cold that she did come down with.
We went back to the specialist a few weeks later for the most recent lab results. When he came in the room, he stated that he had no explanation for what had happened. Clare’s blood work had come back completely normal, despite of the fact that the two dozen previous blood tests indicated some type of disorder. We repeated the tests that day just to be sure. Once again all tests indicated that Clare was completely healthy. The doctor had no idea how this happened. However, Michael and I did…BLESSED GIANNA!
Months later I am happy to report that Clare remains healthy and happy. I have no idea why Gianna blessed our family with her help. Perhaps it was the work I did to support the prolife cause as a teen. Perhaps she answered our prayers because she knew of the aid that I gave a pregnant friend whom without my input and support would have had an abortion, instead of giving the baby up for adoption. Perhaps she saw in me, a young catholic mother who, like herself, was trying to raise happy healthy children to love and know God. I will never know why our lives were changed that day. I only know that they were. I wanted to let you know of this amazing story so that you could share it with others.
Our story shows that all things are possible with God. I pray that by sharing this story with you and your readers, others will call on Blessed Gianna for help. She is remarkable woman who continues to serve God and his people to this day.
By: Anne, Hatfield, PA
Testimony 201
INFERTILITY PROBLEMS
October 18, 2004
MY DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND, MARRIED 4 YEARS, HAD MUCH DIFFICULTY GETTING PREGNANT. HER HUSBAND HAD VERY LOW SPERM COUNT AND THEY WERE IMMOBILE. ONE DOCTOR TOLD THEM IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO CONCEIVE. I TOLD HER ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD. THEIR PARISH PRIEST HAD ST. GIANNA'S GLOVES TO VENERATE. FR. JOHN TOUCHED CORDED ROSARIES TO HER GLOVES AND GAVE THEM TO ALL MOTHERS AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS AFTER MASS ONE DAY. MY HUSBAND PRAYED THE ROSARY AND DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET WITH IT EVERYDAY. WELL, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY DAUGHTER JUST GAVE BIRTH TO A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL ON OCT. 5TH (ST. FAUSTINA'S FEAST DAY). WE THOUGHT FOR A WHILE MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN ON ST. GIANNA'S BIRTHDAY (OCT. 4TH). THEY NAMED HER EMILY GIANNA. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP OTHER BECOME AWARE OF ST. GIANNA. I'M FINDING OUT MANY NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HER, EVEN PRIESTS.
Again thank you and may God bless you for all you do for St. Gianna.
By: Susan, Dearborn, Michigan
Testimony 202
Baby Gianna Amanda Received from Lee Ann
September 3, 2004
We are so in love and so blessed to have our healthy baby Gianna Amanda. We are certain that our prayers and faith, and those of our family, through the intercession of Saint Gianna, contributed to this blessed occasion. Gianna is only 6 weeks young, I am days away from being 41 and we pray that we will have another healthy child in the near future. We were so touched when we attended the mass on April 28 and you made a point of inviting us to have our Gianna blessed when she arrived. Thank you also for allowing us to have Gianna's baptism jewelry blessed. We think Gianna Amanda is particularly special. She is the light of our lives and I become emotional just looking at her. We pray that God will bless us with another happy, healthy sibling for Gianna.
May I briefly tell you about my niece and my sister, whom I prayed about to St. Gianna and God, of course. While my sister was expecting, she developed a blood clot in her lungs, was hospitalized for about a week or more (at about 10 weeks in the pregnancy). For the duration of the term and following, my sister Mary Lou needed to give herself injections of Lubenox . We don't know the long term impact of this medication upon an unborn child and are told there is no interference, but to the best of my knowledge no study has been conducted. Michaela is a healthy, beautiful baby, as is our Gianna. I wish them a lifetime of healthy, safe and happy living and pray to St. Gianna to intercede on their behalf. Mary Lou was recently taken off all medication and is doing well. Finally, the blood clot has disappeared. Thanks to God and St. Gianna!
By: Lee Ann, Philadelphia, PA
Testimony 203
CONCERN OF MISCARRIAGE
After church presentation on Oct 20, 2001
I first learned of Blessed Gianna Beretta from an announcement in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Sunday Bulletin. The Society was coming the following week and everyone was invited to come and pray and to touch the gloves that Blessed Gianna wore during her lifetime. I learned that Blessed Gianna was especially helpful to those with problem pregnancies. At that time, I was 7 weeks pregnant the third pregnancy in a year and a half. My previous pregnancies ended in miscarriage at 81/2 and 91/2 weeks. I was very apprehensive about my chances for this pregnancy and was happy to have someone special to pray to for help. The Friday before the Society was due to come to our parish, I began to bleed, badly. I felt that this pregnancy, too, would result in a miscarriage. My doctor put me on strict bedrest and my spirits fell. I was especially upset because I would not get the chance to touch the gloves of Blessed Gianna. When my mother came to visit me that night, I asked her to go to church on Sunday and touch the gloves on my behalf. She happily agreed to do so and that Sunday she not only went to church to touch the gloves, but she asked the Society to come to my home so that I could touch the gloves myself. Maryellen White conferred with the other Society members and they agreed to visit me after the last Mass was completed. When they came to my home, the gloves were placed on my abdomen and the Society members, together with me, my parents and my daughter, Alyssa, prayed together to Blessed Gianna. It was a remarkable experience. From that time on, I gained confidence and just knew that things were going to work out. Throughout my pregnancy, I prayed to Blessed Gianna at least three times a day to intercede with God on my behalf to grant me a healthy baby. Others in my family, my husband's family and friends also prayed to Blessed Gianna for me. By Thanksgiving, I was out of bed and the pregnancy was proceeding normally. I continued to pray. There were times when my confidence would waiver, but though my prayers, I was able to get through those times. Finally, on May 28th of this year, my precious baby, Matthew Robert, was born at a healthy 8 lbs. 14 oz. If the baby would have been a girl, she would have been named Gianna. Matthew is such a wonderful blessing. Although my experience may not be qualified as miraculous, I believe with all my heart that Blessed Gianna was an important factor in the success of my pregnancy. I will continue to pray to Blessed Gianna so that she may help other women with their problem pregnancies. I am convinced that Blessed Gianna is to thank because she was the only thing different from my previous two pregnancies.
Karen
By: Karen, Bensalem, PA
Testimony 204
WARMTH OF THE GLOVES!
Yesterday I experienced St. Gianna working through me when I came and touched her gloves at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church. I was the one that was pregant last year then lost the baby two days later because it was an ectopic pregancy. When the gloves where placed on my stomach to be able to conceive again I felt I presence of warmth in my being.
By: Maria, Philadelphia, PA
Testimony 205
I recently experienced a miracle through the intercession of St. Gianna. I believed I was miscarrying and the worst of the pain occured around 4/28/2023. At the time I did not realize this was St. Gianna's feast day, but I felt compelled to pray for her intercession. Over the next few days my pain and bleeding gradually receded. The following week, I had follow up blood work completed which indicated a possible ectopic pregnancy. I received an ultrasound which confirmed the ectopic pregnancy and indicated I may have already bled internally. I received an emergency surgery to remove my affected fallopian tube (and tragically, my unborn baby). After the surgery, I learned that my fallopian tube had in fact ruptured (a potentially fatal event) and I was likely bleeding internally the day I asked for St. Gianna's intercession. However, my body had clotted and sealed up the ruptured fallopian tube, stopping the hemorrhage and preserving my life. I believe this was a direct intervention by God through the intercession of St. Gianna on her feast day.
Document Available : Yes, medical records. I also recorded my story on YouTube.
By: Emma Taffe
Testimony 206
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Testimony 207
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