Gino Vizzi will soon meet one of his heroes.
It’s not a sports figure or entertainer.
Make-A-Wish Georgia is sending the 17-year-old Dacula teen and his family to attend a mass with the pontiff . Gino Vizzi wants the pope to bless him, pray for strength to help others and that researchers find a cure for cancer.
“I’m speechless,” said Gino Vizzi. “It’s not something that a lot of people get to do. Coming from a background of being Catholic, it’s all a dream come true.”
He will go with his father, Dave; mother, ToniAnn, and younger sister Julia. Also attending will be the Rev. Eric Hill, pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch, where Vizzi is a parishioner,
In September 2014, Vizzi, a senior at Mill Creek High School, was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia during a doctor’s visit to check on a persistent cough, weight loss and headaches.
He has started a nonprofit, P4 (Pray for) Foundation, to help others. He hopes to attend Kennesaw State University to study business or integrated medicine.
“In Gino’s eyes, he feels like he’s been healed because of his wonderful relationship with God,” said Amy Alvarez, vice president of marketing and communications for Make-A-Wish Georgia. “His spirituality is heart-touching to us as an organization. We knew we needed to make this happen. It’s really awesome.”
