When Pope Francis was visiting Philadelphia earlier in the year, it was only by chance that Kristen Masciantonio's daughter Gianna got a kiss from him. At just 1 year old, Gianna was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The tumor is so severe that surgery is not an option. Then, as fate would have it, while her family was attending the papal parade, Pope Francis picked up little Gianna and kissed the top of her head.
Soon after, Gianna's brain tumor shrank rapidly. "She’s getting better and stronger," said Kristen. “You can hardly see the tumor." This isn't the first time Pope Francis' kiss was believed to be the cure for a baby's ailments. The Cassidy family believes his kiss healed two holes in their infant's heart.
The Masciantonios believed Gianna would be leaving them soon. "They said go home, enjoy the last weeks, maybe months, that you have with her," said her father, Joey. He didn't even want to go to the papal parade that day, believing it would be too much for Gianna, who was undergoing chemotherapy. Today, he says the tumor is "basically gone."
“I think this is all from God,” Joey said. “The pope is a messenger from God.” Gianna's brain tumor has shrunken to the point where radiologists can no longer detect the edges of it.
“Last year was about living in honor of her,” Joey said. “Now we are going to get to live with her.”
Do you think the pope was able to heal this fortunate little one? Let us know in the comments!
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