'Miracle on Market Street' results in a child deputy
In the U.S. Courthouse, they refer to it as "The Miracle on Market Street," that moment on Sept. 26, 2015, when the work of federal law enforcement officials led to a baby with a terminal illness getting a kiss from Pope Francis in front of Independence Hall.
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In the U.S. Courthouse, they refer to it as "The Miracle on Market Street," that moment on Sept. 26, 2015, when the work of federal law enforcement officials led to a baby with a terminal illness getting a kiss from Pope Francis in front of Independence Hall.
Following her papal peck, Gianna Masciantonio's condition improved, and on Tuesday the 19-month-old was present and lively as her big brother, 5-year-old Dominic, was sworn in as an honorary deputy U.S. Marshal at the courthouse at 601 Market St.
The Marshals, the FBI and the Secret Service said they wanted to honor the Masciantonio family and that singular moment that brought hope to many - including law enforcement officials.
William Sweeney, FBI special agent in charge of the Philadelphia office, said the papal kiss and the Masciantonio family have energized federal employees in the city.
"What occurred there touched many people, and the example that your family showed a lot of us have changed a lot of lives," Sweeney told the family at Tuesday's ceremony. "Some guys probably don't want to admit that, but it did."
During the ceremony, the children's parents, Joey and Kristen Masciantonio of Doylestown, received a framed photo of the moment their daughter shared with the pope - signed by Pope Francis, who federal authorities said is keeping tabs on Gianna.
"We will cherish this gift forever and one day pass it along to our daughter, hopefully when we're walking her down the aisle," her dad said to about 60 people in attendance.
Within two months of her September 2014 birth, doctors discovered a tumor on Gianna's brain stem. At 5 months, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Xanthogranuloma (JXG), a rare blood disorder.
"The doctors told us one thing they knew for sure was that she would not live to see her first birthday," Kristen said.
One night in a dream, Kristen saw herself and Joey walking up a flight of stairs with Gianna between them. At the top of the stairs was Pope Francis and the daughter of St. Gianna, for whom her baby girl was named. The family subsequently met the saint's daughter, Gianna Emanuela Molla, at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
In waking life, it was FBI Special Agent Don Asper, a friend of one of the couple's friends, who started the chain of events that got the family close enough for the papal kiss.
Joey believes that the doctors have helped Gianna improve, but that the kiss from Pope Francis was a sign that God heard their prayers, he said.
"We don't think the pope healed our daughter," he said. "But it gave us hope, it gave us strength [and] it gave other people strength."
On Wednesday, Gianna will begin her 14th month of chemotherapy, but now she has official backup in her fight - her big brother, honorary Deputy U.S. Marshal Dominic Masciantonio.
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