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Giovanna Marama Ienco
A short story of Giovanna
Fondly known as 'G'
02/06/1997 to 11/07/2012
Aged 15
May 1st 2012 we rushed Giovanna to the Royal Children's Hospital as a tumour had been detected on her ovary in Mildura. We presented ourselves to the Emergency Department at 9.00am and Giovanna was operated on that night. They removed her ovary along with a 10kg tumour.
Giovanna recovered in hospital for the next 5 days. By this time disbelief had worn off and we were all upbeat about going home, and of course Giovanna was over the moon with her now new figure and flat tummy. May 8th 2012 we were rushed down to Melbourne to be told Giovanna had Ovarian Cancer. The Oncologists were confident they could beat it, so as we went back home we too were confident that she would recover. Giovanna's main concern was she was going to lose her hair, she was so distraught over this! My main concern was she may not be able to become a mother as she had one ovary removed and the other one would most probably be damaged with the Chemo. Little did we know this was not our main concern!!
On Giovanna's 15th birthday she had her first round of chemo at the Royal Children's Hospital. All she wanted for her birthday was a party with all her friends, so two weeks after her chemo 20 of her best friends joined her in celebrating her 15th birthday. She said afterwards that it was the best night of her life! I am so glad and thankful that we did this, it is even more special now as it was to be her last birthday.
By the end of May we were rushed back down to the Royal Children's as something was not quite right, after spending another week there Giovanna would be transferred to the Royal Women's Hospital as they had more experience with this cancer. Sadly on Wednesday 11th July at 12.25pm Giovanna lost her battle. Now we live every person's worst nightmare, our life is forever changed. With our hearts broken in two and a dull ache that doesn't stop, we as parents to our brave little girl Giovanna Marama Ienco continue her legacy through 'Giovanna's Gift', and will tell her story so no one else has to walk in our shoes.
Fondly known as 'G'
02/06/1997 to 11/07/2012
Aged 15
May 1st 2012 we rushed Giovanna to the Royal Children's Hospital as a tumour had been detected on her ovary in Mildura. We presented ourselves to the Emergency Department at 9.00am and Giovanna was operated on that night. They removed her ovary along with a 10kg tumour.
Giovanna recovered in hospital for the next 5 days. By this time disbelief had worn off and we were all upbeat about going home, and of course Giovanna was over the moon with her now new figure and flat tummy. May 8th 2012 we were rushed down to Melbourne to be told Giovanna had Ovarian Cancer. The Oncologists were confident they could beat it, so as we went back home we too were confident that she would recover. Giovanna's main concern was she was going to lose her hair, she was so distraught over this! My main concern was she may not be able to become a mother as she had one ovary removed and the other one would most probably be damaged with the Chemo. Little did we know this was not our main concern!!
On Giovanna's 15th birthday she had her first round of chemo at the Royal Children's Hospital. All she wanted for her birthday was a party with all her friends, so two weeks after her chemo 20 of her best friends joined her in celebrating her 15th birthday. She said afterwards that it was the best night of her life! I am so glad and thankful that we did this, it is even more special now as it was to be her last birthday.
By the end of May we were rushed back down to the Royal Children's as something was not quite right, after spending another week there Giovanna would be transferred to the Royal Women's Hospital as they had more experience with this cancer. Sadly on Wednesday 11th July at 12.25pm Giovanna lost her battle. Now we live every person's worst nightmare, our life is forever changed. With our hearts broken in two and a dull ache that doesn't stop, we as parents to our brave little girl Giovanna Marama Ienco continue her legacy through 'Giovanna's Gift', and will tell her story so no one else has to walk in our shoes.