This Saturday marks the one year anniversary of when Giovanni Cipriano left this planet and died as a result of an accidental ingestion of a peanut. Gio’s family is asking you and me to do one Act of Kindness in Gio’s memory during the next week. I hope you will join me and the thousands of other families effected by food allergies to honor Gio and his family’s work to save lives by doing something kind for another. Gio’s mother, Georgina, has gathered the strength, that I can’t even begin to understand, to work tireless to save the lives of other children. She does not want her tragedy to be yours. Gio’s parents were told to give Benedryl® first and wait and see what happens before they use Gio’s EpiPen®. They waited to see. It ended tragically and they received fatal advice. This year she has been advocating, speaking out and inspiring others to push their physicians for better answers and take control of their child’s life threatening food allergies.
Special Request from Georgina to you:
AN ACT OF KINDNESS FOR LOVE FOR GIOVANNI
Saturday October 18 will mark a year that Giovanni transitioned to the other side, our beautiful son, Gianna’s brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a best friend, classmate, teammate, a boy full of life, full of energy, full of laughter, a teenager that although did give us a run for our money at times, as most normal teenagers do, was also the sweetest, most loving, funny, charming, entertaining boy you ever did want to know. The pain of losing him is more than we can handle most times, but the memories he left us are the most amazing memories and help us get through every day, every minute of every day. There are so many memories and I would love to share them all, but due to the particular timing I have been thinking how I want to help share his memory this week and as I remember Giovanni, I remember how he was always joking around, or could also be a bit harsh about a subject or a person that he didn’t like. He was honest, like it or not. Well at the local supermarket we would go to, their is this homeless man, who likes to stand by the doors and ask for money. I didn’t like to give him money because unfortunately we have been conditioned to think things as , what is he using the money for?, drugs, alcohol? He is not so old that he can’t work instead of beg, etc. Well surpising me Giovanni would argue with me to give him money, telling me he is probably hungry, maybe can’t work, etc. So of course I broke down and gave him money. Giovanni made me so proud that he didn’t judge and knew that this man was in need and wanted to help. So therein comes my thoughts on how we can remember Giovanni.
I want to ask all of you in the next week, in memory of Giovanni that we make it a week of an ACT OF KINDNESS for LOVE FOR GIOVANNI. It doesn’t have to be monetary. Help a friend, a neighbor. Give a few minutes of your time to talk to an elderly person, offer to babysit, offer to walk a neighbors’ dog, buy that person in front or in back of you a cup of coffee or a doughnut, or just offer an ear to someone in need, A kind word to a stranger, whatever you can think of as being nice then do it. I ask that you ask that person to pay it forward. If you could post here what you did or intend to do, give ideas on how to pay forward so that we can feel the love and intention for Giovanni, because of Giovanni! It will be a bit of good, kindness and happiness in the next days that are and will be so sad. There is a fund established to start the Love for Giovanni Foundation
#loveforGiovanni
Please post your random act of kindness below so we can enjoy witnessing the love for others in Gio’s memory…
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
I bought extra food allergy safe snacks for my son’s kindergarten class for kids who don’t have a snack. My son is allergic to peanuts too. I plan on doing so all year, for all the kids.
I also am going to invite my elderly neighbor (his wife died) to have dinner with our family.
Bravo Jody! That is really nice. I am thinking of cooking some food my eldery neighbor or decorating his house for Halloween and providing the treats. OR…asking my daughter’s school if there are any children in transition (homeless) and dropping off a week’s worth of items to make lunches. I can’t decide!
I purchased Halloween costumes in Costco for sick children at a local hospital. They can celebrate and have some joy while being healed inside the hospital.
Karen, Oh now that is a GREAT idea!!! Okay, I may need to steal that one. My support group usually donates our extra prizes from our Halloween party but I think I can add some fun items too. Thank you for sharing.