Area residents can help a little girl who is battling osteosarcoma by attending a benefit Saturday at the One Horse Saloon in Nickerson.
Ten-year-old Gianna, who prefers the nickname “G-Pearl” is the niece of saloon owner and Herman native Lois Sorensen. The Omaha area resident has faced many challenges during her cancer fight, including the amputation of her left leg.
Event organizer Nicole Gahner said Gianna was diagnosed in February and had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
“In August, she was scheduled to have her final chemo treatment but her hip had been bothering her a bit,” she said. “She went in and they did some more scans and that is when they determined she is terminal and there really isn’t a whole lot that they can do, but at that time due to her pain level they decided to remove her leg to give a better quality of life.”
The surgery was successful, but she later developed an infection.
“She is currently back in the hospital and she is scheduled to have another surgery to remove the necrotized tissue,” Gahner said. “They are hoping to have her back home by Sunday.”
Gahner said Gianna has maintained a positive attitude through her battle with the disease.
“With her age and everything, she is refusing to give up,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to help support her and her family and fight right alongside them. … Gianna is a very happy, bubbly, fun-loving girl, but it is just a heartbreaking situation for her and her family.”
The benefit begins at 11 a.m. but will run through the afternoon and into the evening, including coinciding with the Nebraska at Michigan State football game at 6 p.m.
“We’ll have that on TV and will do 50/50 drawings throughout the Husker game,” Gahner said. “We’ll have raffle prizes as well and we have quite a few silent-auction items that will be going on all day, clear up to about 7 p.m.”
There will also be food specials and a bake sale. Gahner said all the proceeds the bar and restaurant bring in that day will go to Gianna’s family.
Hayseed Cowboy will also perform from 8 to 11 p.m. There is no cover charge, but donations are welcome.
Gahner said she wanted to organize something for Gianna because Sorensen has been like a mother to her.
“The Sorensens are very near and dear to my heart and her family is like my family,” she said. “I have a 10-year-old son and I can’t imagine what Gianna’s family is going through. This is all hard for adults to understand, let alone a 10-year-old girl.”
For Gianna’s GoFundMe page, go here: https://bit.ly/2ZkBUbw
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