I had a special visit from Cardinal Rigali today

I had soo many visitors today, it was great! I wore a beautiful pink dress with a pink bow on the front, my hair was curled, and I was loving the attention from all of my family. I was held by soo many people today. I was tickled pink!

Cardinal Rigali walked into my hospital room and my Dad introduced him to my audience. And then he came over to me, he said I was "angelic". My dad explained how much of a blessing I am to the family. His Eminence talked soo nicely of me and how he loved my name, "after the great saint" he said. He lead my family into prayer and my Grandmothers were in their glory. Truly in His Glory.
I had such a great day today and I am so blessed to have Parents to have asked the Cardinal to come visit and pray over me today. Today I felt like an Angel.
Thanks Mom for asking Cardinal Rigali to come and bless me. Thanks Dad for sharing our story with Cardinal Rigali. Thank you Cardinal Rigali and Monsignor McIntyre for your prayers and support. It was truly an Honor to meet you today.

Gianna Loves You

I moved from the PICU to the Pulmonary floor. This is a step in the right direction. I hope the next step is home to my own crib. I am waiting for special visitors on Valentine's Day...my family!! My family and friends came and decorated room, it looks like I can host a Valentine's Day dance in my room. I even have some music, hope you like baby Bach! Check it out:

Gi Love's room on Valentine's Day from Sue Clark on Vimeo.

Visit with Gianna

Visit with Gianna from Sue Clark on Vimeo.

Gi Love's Birthday Weekend!

It was my first Birthday. I turned one on January 10, 2009. One of the first gifts I received was a blood transfusion in the hospital. I have been in CHOP's PICU for a week now and am on a ventilator. I came here because I caught a cold, and I can't fight a cold much like you, but I sure try. My parents and my homecare nurse sent me to the Emergency Department because I couldn't keep up the fight on my own, we had to call upon the experts to get me back on track. They intubated me, and I was able to breathe again. I have been here since, trying to get rid of the "rhinovirus" and want to get stronger so I can breathe with just the O2. My levels are not strong enough to come off the ventilator. So I spent my birthday at CHOP.

My family came and stayed with me all day and into the night. We played games, we sang songs, we colored, we laughed, and we gave lots of kisses.

My big brother was drawing all sorts of neat pictures on the window, and he was taking lots of pictures too.

I love when my brothers crawl into the crib and try to snuggle with me, they tell me I am the best girl ever! And then they kiss my face, lots!

My Daddy comes over and talks to me, and everytime I hear his voice say my name, I smile. My eyes light up and then I feel him holding my hand. I AM Daddy's girl, and so proud of it.

My Mom will walk into the room, and I know she is there to take care of me. She will put a pretty dress on me, curl my hair, bring my favorite toy, sing me my name, and kiss me. I miss when she holds me in her arms. I can't be held because of all the equipment, but I try to turn my head toward her when she is near.

My Grandmoms were there too! Grandmom Kay bought me a beautiful purple party hat for my first birthday! Purple is my Grandma Kay's favourite color. Grandmom Anne sings me a guardian angel song all the time, thats how I know its her. My Aunt came too... I love to hear my Mom and Aunt talk over me, I get the latest scoop and I see what its like to have a sister around.

The nurses, social workers, and staff at CHOP decorated my room with all sorts of decorations that said my name, and the #1 on it. They all came in to wish me Happy Birthday! They even gave me a blanket and pooh mobile as presents.

Everyone sang to me, and the "cha cha cha" was the best part of the song...

My Birthday gifts were good for me, I got my pink back.

My Mom's friends and co workers at Chester County Hospital's Maternity Unit held a big bowling party in honor of me and my birthday! I heard it was soo much fun, and all my friends showed up! Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you! for being so kind to my family, and to me. I am so happy it was because of me, you all got together and had a great time bowling, playing games, and catching up. You are so supportive of me and our good cause.

Thats a big deal to leave the Eagles game to come to my party, and I really appreciate it! I heard the Giants fans left the Eagles game early too ;).

The Chester County Hospital Maternity Unit

The St Pat's Boys


The amazing raffle prizes! Wow! How beautiful!

Thank you for making my First Birthday so special.

With Gracious Love & Gratitude for family and friends,

Gianna

You are Invited to my Birthday Bowling Party!

Mom's friends at work, Chester County Hospital Maternity Unit, is sponsoring Bowling for Gianna at The Bowling Palace in Downingtown, PA on Sunday January 11, 2009 from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

I turn 1 on Saturday January 10, and want to celebrate with all the people who have been soo special to me and my family this past year! So this is a great way to party, like its my Birthday!

The Chester County Hospital Maternity Unit are holding this event to benefit my care. Each ticket is only $13 dollars and this includes shoes and 2hrs of bowling! The whole family can come to this event! You can create a team, or just come by yourself! There are a limit amount of tickets, and I want all of you to come. So please purchase your tickets from any member from the Maternity Unit Council (including my mom).

Gianna's First Christmas

Christmas Eve we went to Grandmom Anne's house. All my cousins from my mom's side were soo excited to see me, as I entered the house my cousins announced "Its a Gianna Parade!" Everyone helped bring all the things I need to hang out for Christmas Eve. My brothers and cousins sang a Christmas Carol before they opened their gifts. They sang beautiful songs like Noel, Santa's Choir, Jingle Bells, and lots of songs ( I have lots of cousins). My Aunts and Mom held me all night until it was time to leave. We had to get ready for Santa. My brothers wished for a Wii this Christmas.
Santa came Christmas Day! We opened presents (the Wii came), and had breakfast. Mom gave me a bath, and wasn't really happy with the way I looked. So she called the pediatrician, and then we went to the local ER. We spent the afternoon in the hospital on Christmas Day. I was checked out and sent home around 5pm. We stopped by Mom's floor where she works to say Merry Christmas. And back home we went to settle in for the night.
It was a short visit to the ER, but things are ok now and will see the doctors in a few days to get checked on. Merry Christmas

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who supported Blue Tulip Day on Friday, December 12. I am soo fortunate to have friends like you, and for your friends too! Word got out, and the stores filled up fast. I know many of you waited in line and many of you bought some really beautiful things. I know, because I was there too! Blue Tulip was my first Christmas shopping experience, and I was grateful to get out of the house to experience the event. I was there with mom and my brother, Brendan. I loved hearing all the people's voices and well wishes. You are all soo kind, and I Thank You for being soo thoughtful to me and my family. God Bless & Merry Christmas!