Fight Like Gianna

About two years ago, right before her 11th birthday our beautiful niece Gianna was feeling some pain in her knee. Being that Gianna is an amazing dancer who practiced and competed often this was not very alarming. Everyone felt it was probably just sore and that with a little rest it would begin to feel better. The pain persisted and became more intense and that is when Gianna was brought for an X-ray. The X-ray revealed a mass in the bone by her knee and Gianna was brought to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC for scans. Shortly after, Gianna was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma which is a rare bone cancer in children. Gianna’s parents Carl and Jillian were rocked by this shocking news and were immediately faced with the job of telling Gianna her diagnosis and planning the battle that was ahead of them. Since diagnosis, Gianna has been through multiple surgeries. Initially Gianna was given a total knee replacement to try and remove the cancer from her body. After the surgery, follow up scans showed the cancer had spread to her lungs. Since that point Gianna has had over 10 surgeries and every time the cancer comes back and we are left looking for another answer. Gianna has tried chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy as well as many other clinical trials throughout the United States. Unfortunately none of these treatments have been successful and the cancer is becoming more aggressive.
          Gianna is the oldest of four siblings. She always has a smile on her face and is an amazing role model. Her strength throughout this battle has been absolutely amazing. No matter how she may be feeling she always takes the time to paint an amazing picture or put together a Tik Tok with her little brother and sisters. Gianna has always been the life of every party. She not only knows how to entertain everyone but she knows how to get everyone else involved and having fun with her contagious personality. Anything she has ever put her mind too she has achieved. Whether it was perfecting a painting, putting together a dance routine, or creating an amazing science project with her Dad nothing less than perfect was acceptable to her. That tenacity and drive will be the same qualities that help her beat this Cancer and get back to doing the things that she loves. The past two years have been extremely hard on the family mentally, physically and financially. Carl and Jillian have not only had to worry about getting Gianna the best care and treatments available to her they also have 3 other children who they are trying to keep in as normal of a routine as possible. Even with all of this they continue to be the rock that Gianna leans on and the shoulder that she needs to cry on.
          The time has come in Gianna’s fight to look for other answers and treatments elsewhere. There are no longer any other treatment options in the United States so Gianna will be visiting doctors abroad where she can take part in Clinical trials and receive treatments not yet available in the United States. We know that traveling and seeking medical alternatives will be very costly. The cost of all treatments and surgeries will fall directly on Carl and Jillian as insurance will not pay for any of these next steps. All proceeds from this Campaign will go directly to Carl and Jillian to help fund this next chapter in Gianna’s fight. We are asking for your support to help Gianna and her family continue this fight for a Cancer free future for Gianna. Gianna has been battling long enough and it’s time for things to start going in the right direction. I cannot wait until the day when we can see that beautiful smiling face playing and laughing and just being a kid again. Gianna has been the most wonderful big sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, goddaughter and friend to us all.They say sometimes in life things just can’t be done on your own. Sometimes it takes a village. For Gianna, the time is NOW and We are that village. On behalf of Gianna’s entire family, we would like to thank everyone for all of the love , thoughts, prayers, and support that everyone has shared with us during these difficult times.