In November 2013, a friend of the parents, Angela and Scott, emailed our Society to tell us that they were experiencing a very difficult pregnancy. Angela was 16 weeks pregnant with her sixth daughter. The daughter, whom she has named Gianna, had a neurological deficit as the right side of her brain was not growing and doctors also felt that baby Gianna would have Down’s Syndrome. They began begging for the intercession of Saint Gianna to please help the baby and help give Angela, her husband, and their daughters’ strength to deal with anything that came their way.
Our Society then sent the family a holy card with a relic from Italy (given to Society by Saint Gianna’s daughter, Gianna Emanuela) for Angela to hold to her belly and pray for baby Gianna! Angela shared with us that the same day she received the relic with prayer card and medal and she prayed that she felt a sense of peace... that God was telling her that everything would be ok.
In December 2013, we received good news that Gianna did not have spina bifida nor a brain infection! The prognosis then became an 80% chance that Gianna's brain would develop normally.
Angela and a few of her good friends made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Saint Gianna at Nativity Church on January 11, 2014. It was at least a 10-hour roundtrip drive for the women, but they had such strong faith and devotion to Saint Gianna. Angela and her friends were able to venerate the First- and Second-Class relics of Saint Gianna at our Shrine. It was a moving and prayerful pilgrimage from many states away!
Then in February, we received another update on baby Gianna. Thanks to everyone's prayers, Gianna was continuing to grow!! An ultrasound showed that the doctor was pleased with her improvement. Gianna’s brain was catching up and getting closer to 'normal'. The doctor still called it a mild case but with improvement. A brain size under 10 is normal. In January, the brain measured 12; and in February, it measured 11. We all continued to pray and an email petition was also sent to Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna, who promised prayers to her “Saint Mother” for baby Gianna!! At that time, Gianna had still been diagnosed with Down Syndrome and the family stated that if it was God's Will, then it will be.
In the beginning of April, the family of baby Gianna sent us this awesome email:
“Thanks be to God!! I just came back from my monthly ultrasound appointment. The doctor said that Gianna's neurological concerns have "completely resolved" and that her brain is "entirely normal." We are speechless, joyful, and very thankful for all of your prayers, which have clearly been heard and answered.”
But the answered prayers were not finished yet! At the beginning of May, Angela lost all of her amniotic fluid and baby Gianna would have to be born a whole month early. Of course, premature babies come with various health concerns. However, baby Gianna was born completely healthy!! (This additional answered prayer mimics the 2nd miracle attributed to the intercession of Saint Gianna.... A mother in Brazil lost all of her amniotic fluid near the beginning of her pregnancy, but baby GIANNA MARIA was born completely healthy and normal!)
Here is a picture of baby Gianna, along with her birth announcement (below} sent in by friends and family:
Born May 2, 2014
6:30 p.m.
5 lb.- 9 oz.
Healthy! No need for NICU.
Thank you Saint Gianna!
May God Bless and Watch Over You and Your Loved Ones!
The Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla – Board of Directors
Check out our website at: https://saintgianna.org |
