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Danny’s Poem

Eric Clapton said it best

by Danny Altano

In shock strange as it seems.
I spent 23 years watching CF ever so slowly take my daughter’s life.
Never her spirit.
Never her love.
Never her gratitude.
Never her lust for life.
Never her kindness.
Never her beauty.
Never the light in her eyes.
Never her concern for others.
Never her creativity.
Never ever her smile.
She never gave anything to her disease except every ounce of courage a person could possibly have. Enduring tremendous pain and suffering just to breathe.
“It’s OK Dad, I’m OK don’t worry”.
She always protected me
because she’d say I was sensitive and cried too easily.

A part of me last week, watching the final chapter unfold, kept thinking, how did this happen? While another part knew exactly how it happened. The last two years there was a more rapid decline, but in the last three months it became a freight train out of control. The best medical care in the world could not stop it or even slow it down. We always knew in our hearts this could be a possibility, but I guess to cope you allow denial to lull you into safer place, at least for a time.

We were blessed with a very special situation with many silver linings. I wholeheartedly believe we made the best of it, especially because of the love and dedication of Gianna’s mother Sydney and sister Marissa. We are the luckiest family for being able to have Gianna so close in our lives for as long as we did.

“And I know there will be no more tears in heaven.”

Friends Cure CF


Dear Friends,
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we are sharing this news with you.

After 23 years of the most courageous fight, our beloved Gianna Altano is breathing easy in heaven. Gianna was an inspiration to us all, and with her bright smile and lust for life, she taught all of us how to live the best life possible. She lived, she loved, and she engaged the world around her. If she suffered, it was in silence, as her concern was always for others.

To honor Gianna’s commitment to others, the Friends Cure CF Committee members will continue our partnership with the Living Breath Foundation as we saw first-hand the importance of their work in times of crisis. Please check back for the date of our next “Surf’s Up” event.

We continue to be overwhelmed with gratitude for all of your support!

Sincerely,
Friends Cure CF

Read more about Gianna.
Read Danny’s poem for Gianna.

Gianna’s Gift of Life

Gianna was a gift to all who knew her, and her gift continues through the Gift of Life, which has already made a difference.

Read a letter from one of Gianna’s organ recipients.

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In Memorium

In memory of Gianna Rose Altano

In memory of Adam and Naomi Oneto

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