A Father's Day Gift: 3-Year-Old N.J. Girl Is Cancer-Free, And Home

Gwennie Marra has been battling neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric cancer, since she was 16 months old.

The 3-year-old’s hair recently became long enough for pigtails, her mom, Angela Marra, told the Asbury Park Press. The Howell family said radiation had taken what little hair she had left.

But this Father’s Day, there’s even better news. This will be the first one in three years that Lou Marra, Gwennie’s father, didn’t have to spend with his daughter in the hospital, he told the newspaper, because she’s been cancer-free for almost a year.

Lou Marra, who recalled one moment when Narcan was needed because Gwennie’s kidneys were failing, all due to the morphine and steroids used to counteract chemotherapy, told The Asbury Park Press that people realize what’s important in life when you have a tragedy:

“It’s sad, but it’s true. If I got anything out of this journey, I realize what life is about... your family. It makes me appreciate Father’s Day a lot more.”

The family knows they’re not out of the woods. A GoFundMe page, called ”Gifts for Gwennie,” has been set up, and the page has raised more than $12,000 for the girl’s care.

The road to recovery also hasn’t been easy.

Since the tumor was found on April 15, 2013, Gwennie has spent more time in the hospital than she has at home with her family, according to the GoFundMe page .

She has undergone several different types of body scans, a biopsy of the tumor, chemotherapy, and has had bone marrow and stem cells harvested. She has been hospitalized for an infection and for painful sores as a result of the chemo, according to GoFundMe.

The entire course of treatment was expected to take a minimum of 18 months. Her prognosis is good, according to GoFundMe. A year ago, the family wrote:

“She is a strong little girl and has been proving it to us all daily with how she is toughing out all her procedures and treatments. We want nothing more than to help out all we can with paying for the enormous burden of medical bills her parents are facing.”

When Gwennie underwent treatment, according to GoFundMe, her blood pressure once dropped to dangerous levels. Even so, she was able celebrate her big brother’s First Holy Communion a year ago.

The community has rallied around the family to provide support. “Gwennie’s Gifts” is a group of friends and colleagues who provide support to the Marra family, and a “Marra-Thon” was set up in 2013 at Gold’s Gym in Howell to provide benefits, according to the Gwennie’s Gifts blog.

The Marras chose the name “Gwennie’s Gifts” for this foundation so that when Gwendelyn is doing well, according to the blog, “she too may pass on the amazing prayers and gifts that were given to her.”

You can find Gwennie’s GoFundMe page by clicking here.

Patch photo