In the Summer of 1961, Gianna and Pietro Molla learned that their fourth child was on the way. They were delighted with the prospect of adding another child to their family. However, after several weeks of discovering this new miracle, Gianna began to develop some unusual swelling and experienced a great deal of increasing pain. She immediately made an appointment with her brother, Dr. Ferdinando. The news was not good. She and Pietro were told that she had a large benign tumor growing very close to the area where the baby resided. Her brother referred her to Dr. Vitali for a second opinion. He felt sure that the tumor would need to be removed and soon rather than later.

Dr. Vitali agreed that the tumor needed to be removed. There were three options. The first option would be the safest for Gianna. It would involve removing not only the tumor but the uterus, doing an hysterectomy.  Gianna and Pietro were told that they would never be able to have children after this procedure and your two-month old unborn fetus would die as an undesired side effect of the surgery. Although, they both knew that this would not be considered a sin under Catholic dogma because the desire was to save the mother’s life at the expense of the child’s life. Gianna and Pietro requested to know the second surgery option.

The second surgery option would allow them to have other children, but the tumor would be removed and the fetus would be aborted as well. Gianna was adamant that this was not an option due to their Catholic beliefs. Gianna asked what was their third surgery option.

The third surgery option would only remove the tumor. It might save your baby and allow you to have children in the future, but there were no guarantees. It would also put Gianna’s life in danger, now and in the future. She was told that she could have serious and dangerous complications now and in the future and she could lose the baby anyway.

Being a doctor Gianna understood the risks in front of her. A few days later, Gianna made the greatest gift of love for the life of her unborn baby. Gianna pleaded, “Save our baby!” To Dr. Vitali, Ferdinando, and Pietro, please respect my wishes and do everything you can to save our baby!

Gianna underwent the surgery on September 6, 1961. The tumor was completely removed, and Gianna recuperated little by little over time. There were still seven months until the baby would be born, and there were no guarantees for Gianna or her unborn child during that time. Gianna trusted God in everything and went about the responsibilities of her life in peace. She prayed, “Jesus, please let our baby be born safe and healthy. Please … I’m putting everything in Your Hands!”

The fact that Gianna had had surgery earlier in the pregnancy meant it was too risky to have the baby at home. Pietro drove her to Saint Gerard’s Hospital. It was the afternoon of Good Friday, April 20, 1961. On the way, Gianna turned to Pietro and pleaded with him, “Pietro, promise me that if the doctors can save only one of us, you will choose our baby. Remember, if you have to decide between me and our baby, save our baby!” Pietro fought back tears, but replied, “Yes, Gianna. I promise.”

Gianna knew the birth would be difficult and painful. She knew there was a chance she might need to undergo another surgery. Still Gianna trusted God. She put everything in His Hands! On Friday, April 20, 1962, Gianna was admitted to the maternity ward at Saint Gerard Hospital in Monza.  At 11:00 a.m. on Holy Saturday, a beautiful and healthy baby girl was born! She weighed almost 10 pounds. They named her Gianna Emanuela as she was cradled by her exhausted mother and onlooking father. Gianna gazed at her daughter with indescribable love for a long time without uttering a word.

Shortly after giving birth, Gianna’s temperature soared, and she was diagnosed with septic peritonitis by Dr. Vitali. She asked Pietro to take her home so that she could die at home. It is a serious and fast-moving infection. It will not be long; although, all measures available at the time were used to save her life—blood transfusions and the strongest antibiotics were administered. Gianna uttered to her daughter, “I’m afraid that I may not live to watch you grow up, my little one, but how I love you!!

Their other three children—Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Lauretta—had no idea of the danger their mother had been in and that she would not be coming home to play with them or listen to their chatter. Gianna Emanuela remained in the hospital nursery until they returned home. As Gianna grew older, Pietro would tell her of her mother’s great love for her. Gianna’s readiness to give her own life for her daughter’s right to life. Gianna gave her life as Jesus taught in the Gospel. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s own life for a friend (cf. John 15:13)."

In her final hours, her brother, Father Giuseppe, administered the sacrament, The Anointing of the Sick. Gianna who prayed each day and attended mass daily was slipping into a coma, but in her final hours of consciousness, she asked her brother, Father Giuseppe, to at least touch the Host to her lips as she could no longer swallow. Then Gianna raised her eyes to the crucifix on the wall and offered her suffering to Our Lord who had suffered so much for us. “Now I understand a little of what it must have been like for You. Jesus, you, too, died alone—except for Mary and Saint John—on Calvary. Jesus, I love You. Help me to accept death, Jesus! Help me to die in a holy way!”

Twice Gianna had declared this complete, unreserved love for her unborn child’s life: First in September, 1961, when she asked that her pregnancy be saved despite the awareness of the risks she was taking, and again in April 20, 1962, when she pleaded with Dr. Vitali and Pietro to save the life of their baby at all costs, even her own life!