Gianna's Love, A Poem

With sincere gratitude to the unknown author of this beautiful poem dedicated to Gianna who anonymously sent us these beautiful words just days before her birthday. Today we remember Gianna with greater love, gratitude and peace as it was nine years ago today she entered our world. Happy Birthday & GBG. 🎀
Gianna’s Love, A Poem

I came to you on a winter’s day
Or maybe you, only you, came to me
To hold my hand, shower love in this life
Brief but enduring…that’s what I’ll always say

She’s pretty in pink, that’s what they all think
A gentle smile, she captivates us all the while
The hands of time seek to remind
Our time is finite, forever to unwind

The sun rises early just to see her face
The birds, the bees all take their place
“Greetings, sweet angel, who welcomes the morning glow
Could you look more precious, your pretty hair with its bow!”

Our rose has bloomed
And in her joy…constantly
We are consumed
But quickly we remember our sacrifice and our sorrow
To ask the Lord to borrow
A moment in time for one more tomorrow
With us she can’t remain, all part of God’s will to attain
Her last breath will always be our first breath
Of each sunrise and blessed mourn

And yet our rose of sunburst bright
Must fade and fade, defeated by night
Forever pretty in pink
To join the cherubs adorning heaven’s gate
But patiently we will wait and wait….and wait

Grandma’s love, balloons, and songs of joy
Surrounded by her brothers’ love…
And their silly toys
Remember me, oh please
Remember me
Forever and always as your precious
Little bubble bee
You’ll find me in my garden
Amongst Mom’s flowers I will play
Leave a wiffle ball, bat or glove
I need them near me, I need your love

Come out back, will you, and play?
And all the while along your way
Fight and argue
Laugh and run
And when you’re tired, the games all done
Know that your bubble bee truly
Was the one who had the most fun

And now the stars of night compel my flight
My wonder boys, to you I bid farewell…
A blessed goodnight
Sunrise, I trust, will welcome a new day
Look for me atop the prettiest rose
Come out back, will you, and play?
-Anonymous

Pink Bows and Birthday Balloons!

Today we are remembering Gianna with Love.
She came into our lives five years ago, and we still have her Love in our hearts.

Sister Alice

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia lost a loved one today, Sister Alice Strogen.
She was so sweet and so kind. She would come into Gianna's room, and her presence was a highlight and a fond memory we have of the care that was given at CHOP for Gianna.
We will miss her greatly and hope she enjoys the presence of many angels greeting her in heaven in today.

If you like to see her smile, and  how she blended right in with our family, please watch the video at the 1:00 min mark, from this blog entry:
 http://giannaslove.blogspot.com/2011/10/when-everything-returns-to-normal-yet.html

Cardinal Rigali and Sister Alice

Sending Kisses to Heaven

I think it's harder as time goes by, we miss our Gianna. We know she's an Angel looking over many people here. We also know she has met other Angels in Heaven since her passing. Our hearts go out to all the families who have lost a child, young or old. We send many warm thoughts to those families and know how hearts can heal.
We send many kisses to all the Angels in Heaven, because we miss you.

Feast of the Guardian Angel

Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death. 

I like to think its "the angels who are protecting their parents".

There is no doubt in my mind this is role of many Guardian Angels. Happy Feast Day to all those Angels who guard us on earth! 

Visiting the Vatican and there are always little angels in their pictures.

"when everything returns to normal.. yet, nothing is"

It is one year ago today Gianna was surrounded by Love in her hospital room. We sang songs to her, and we told her how much we love her. Most of all, we Thanked her for touching our lives. We knew we were holding an Angel on her last day on earth, and in return she let us know it. Gianna was not vocal, but she responded with her eyes (and some head rolls). Gi communicated a very special messsage as she let us hold her no matter the number of attached cords and tubes: To be held, is to love. Many of us called her "our" Gianna, because she made everyone feel like family when you held her.
It was such a beautiful moment when she connected with us on many occasions, much like the joy when having a child say his first word. She taught us how to communicate with her. I think sometimes she used the pulse oximeter that was connected to her toe. It would beep like a morse code. We would be in the other room talking, and the pulse oximeter would alert. She was telling us she didn't want to be alone, and wanted to hear our conversation. So we would stay in her room and talk. The pulse ox would not beep so often, and of course the noise would completely dissipate when you held her AND talked to her.

Her brothers would crawl into her crib and play with her. They were gentle, but they still are young boys who don't know the limits. Gianna let them know the limits with her, but mostly she loved their company and would put up with most of it just so they stayed with her. They adored her and loved her company. They knew how to play together. The youngest boy still draws pictures of these moments, a year later. Gi's other brother asked what type of candy do you think she's eating in heaven... a year later. They are so proud of their little sister as an angel in heaven, but miss her dearly everyday.

`
Her community and church recently came together to hold a benefit for her brothers' school in Gianna's name. It was a grand affair and a great tribute of the kindness & generosity of St Patrick's parishoners. Once again, they came together to raise funds for a new science lab for the school much like they came together to support Gianna when she was with us. Her parents are so grateful to be surrounded by such great friends and families, and in return hope the science lab will benefit all their children in learning more about the science of healing at St Patricks School.

Its a year later and the family is thriving on activities, school, sports, friends, parties, and still remaining to keep Gianna in their hearts and their home. So one would say its back to normal, yet nothing is.

Thanks for all your prayers, support, & love.

Memorial service today was held for Gianna at CHOP, her hospital

Today The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had a memorial service for Gianna and all the Angels that entered Heaven this past year. It was a beautiful service and tribute to the children & families that were cared for at CHOP.

Gi Love for Trey Love

Please say a prayer to our Gianna to help Trey Love.
Trey needs all the love and prayers we can give him & Gi's Love always had a way of comforting those around her.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8031009

3 years ago today, we were blessed with an Angel, Gianna.

3 years ago today I met Gianna for the first time. We are soo thankful for the gift she gave us, Love. Her family visited her memorial site to sing Happy Birthday to her, leave 3 pink roses, and birthday treats for her brothers to share.

I saw this big lollipop as I was checking out, and it just reminded me of Gianna. A large pink flower! I think the lollipop weighed as much as Gi did!

We hope you celebrate with us today, by doing something you Love to do! Hold someone you Love! or Kiss someone you Love (many times over).

Happy Birthday, Gianna!

Love, Aunt Sue Anne

Gianna's Funeral Services

Viewing will be held at Stretch's Funeral Home 6-9pm Friday November, 5, 2010.
Saturday November 6, 2010 10am with 11;30am catholic mass at St Patrick's in Malvern, PA
The burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery with reception to follow.

"Gianna can fly" - my big brother said to my little brothers.

It was a warmer day than usual for October, but Mom & Dad had to take me to CHOP because I had an unusually low temperature and everyone at Bayada and CHOP did everything they could to keep me healthy. I left my mom and dad's arms in the afternoon on All Saints Day, and of course I had to be a little reluctant to leave so we could have a proper goodbye. I loved how all my brothers were there. All my Aunts and Uncles sang songs to me. My grandmothers lead the prayers and everyone was there with me as I entered heaven as a true angel. All of my family wanted to hold me, and shower me with lots of love as I became an angel. I received so much love. I was wrapped in a pretty pink warm blankets. I heard my mom and dad's voices... you can't mistake my Dad's voice...its soo masculine with a deep tone. Mom told me she loved taking care of me! I had the best team of nurses and doctors on earth.
My brothers said goodbye to me and stayed with me, mom & dad, all day. They gave me lots of kisses, and sang me a song. I have three of them, we all put paint on our hands and put our hands together on a canvas. And soon after, I went home to heaven.
Before I was born, I was in my mommy's tummy and on Nov 1, 2007 my parents were both at CHOP when the doctors told them I was to be an Aicardi Angel .
3 years on earth with endless support, care, & Love, I told my parents and brothers that I am going to be an Angel in heaven. My mom & dad told me that I am came to them peacefully and now I am leaving them peacefully. I am always with my family, with Love.

Can you pray for Healthy Tissue, Please.

Hugs & Kisses from the Princess Crib on Pulmonary...

In and Out

This is me and my cousin. She is so sweet to me, and waited a long time to get a chance to hold me on this day.
This is my brother and my grandmother on Easter night. I was toasty warm in Grandma's arms.

The latest news is that I went to CHOP for the week, last week. I took some antibiotics thru an IV and it helped me get better so I can get home. One week... and now I am back home :)

Gi dolly, Gi bunny. Gi lovey.

A couple of months have flown by since I turned 2. And lets just say, things haven't been quiet with three big brothers running around the house, activities array, my homecare nurses on their shifts, my machines making all sorts of noises for my respiratory treatments, the usuall bells and whistles of my monitor, and of course the parties that are held at the house to celebrate the holidays!

Everyone who comes to visits, say I look like a precious doll. Looking forward to my next visit with you!!

I have grown a bit, and weigh a little more too. But still love to hold my pink bunny!

This is me with my Aunt on Easter Sunday.

Tea for Two, Tea for me and you, Gianna turns 2!

On January 10, I turned 2 years old! My mom and dad had a tea party for me! They invited my grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins! And Willie, my nurse was there too, to take care of me, and also to enjoy the party! We had lots of food! My mom and aunts made tea sandwiches, and my dad made sure potatoe chips, pickles, and beer were there to accompany them. Silly Dad, dont you know that tea parties are all about saving room for the sweets and scones with our tea?? He's the best, he always makes sure that everyone has plenty to eat when there is a party at our house!
My mom made soo many mini cupcakes! chocolate and vanilla. Sprinkles and jimmies. white and chocolate icing. They all looked so yummy. My Aunt Maureen made the yummiest cookies and brought so many flavors of tea. My grandmom Kay made scones with cranberries and white-chocolate chips. Grandmom Anne made her Irish Scone. And so many people brought lots of cookies, candy and chocolates! Yummm! The hot tea was delicious on a very cold January day.
We all had a great time, and everyone had lots to eat! We were all so happy that I was healthy enough to be home for my birthday! A true blessing for all!

Many Blessings ahead for 2010

I hope you all had a great Holiday season and you are ready to bring in the new decade of 2010. Its going to be a good year, and lots to celebrate, including my 2nd Birthday in a few weeks!!

Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts in 2009. I spent Christmas and New Years in my home. The care I receive at home has become such a blessing to me and my family.

Wishing you Love, Faith, Happiness, and many Blessings for 2010!


This is me with my Aunt Kate on Christmas Eve:

Can you Pray... for a miracle?

Blessed Marianne Cope is need of one more miraculous event to occur in a prayer to her, so she can become Saint Marianne Cope. I am in need of a miracle of being cured of Aicardi Syndrome and all the physical ailments that accompany it.
Blessed Marianne Cope took care of many girls and women who became very ill and deformed. She help establish homes for girls and hospitals for the sick in Hawaii.
My family is very faithful and our religion is Roman Catholic, we welcome you and all people of faith to join us in saying this prayer to Blessed Marianne Cope:

Lord Jesus, You gave us Your commandment of love of God and of neighbor, and identified Yourself in a special way with the most needy of Your people; hear our prayer. Faithful to Your teaching, Mother Marianne Cope loved and served her neighbor, especially the most desolate outcast, giving herself generously and heroically for the victims of leprosy. She alleviated their physical and spiritual sufferings, thus helping them to accept their afflictions with resignation, as a pledge of God’s love and their eternal happiness. Through her merits and intercession, grant us the favor which we confidently ask of You to cure Gianna Mashett of Aicardi Syndrome and all the ailments that accompany Gianna's illness so that Gianna becomes a healthy girl as she grows so that the People of God, following the inspiration of Mother Marianne Cope's life and apostolate, may practice fraternal charity, according to Your word and example. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (with ecclesiastical approval)

Please say this little prayer every day. Some Intercession prayers are said everyday for 9 straight days.

h1n1 epidemic

I caught the flu, I was home for about 3 full days until I went back to CHOP. I am fighting this flu with the help of the best care at CHOP. Cheers to my team, I know they will help me get better again soon, and soon I will be home!

Fall Back

The boys went to back to school, and I soon went back to CHOP.

There has been a change in my status. I am not able to "sprint" as often as I was able to do so. Sprint means that I could take a break from the BiPAP machine. The break would allow me to use the nasal cannula tubes for oxygen. The BiPAP machine...air delivered through a mask is set at a measured pressure for inhaling and another for exhaling. BiPAP allows me to get more air in and out of the lungs because I sometimes lack the natural muscular effort needing to do so.

So now I am at CHOP, and I am reliant on the BiPAP machine at all times. They tried to sprint me again, but I cant respond like I did in the past.

So in addition to many people praying for me, I have many doctors working to help me so that I can breathe on my own again. Including my big brothers. Stephen has taken on the role of Dr Licht, my neurologist as he was trying to fix my brain...and Brendan was trying to tap into my lungs to help me breathe like Dr Goldfarb, my pulmonologist.

They know I still need more "fixin' ". So my brothers are going to come back to visit me almost everyday to help fix me. My family is praying for me everyday to help heal me.

My summer vacation

Over the summer, my family and I went to the beach.

Mom and Dad set it up with the homecare nurses that I could come with them to the beach house they rented.

We all had a good time, the boys hit the beach almost everyday. They went to the boardwalk with their cousins, and went on the rides. I hung back at the house with the nurses and Grandmom Anne and Grandmom Kay.

The smell of the bay, the sounds of the waves, and the taste of salt in the air was very relaxing for my parents until the one day my stats dropped and I had to go to the beach hospital. I stayed overnight and mom picked me up the next day. The following day we ended our beach vacation, packed up my machines and headed for home.