Novi Woods Celebrates 6-Year-Old Beating Cancer

Gioia Masseus, 6, first grade student at Novi Woods Elementary School, is now free from cancer after battling it for two years.

She was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was in pre-school in January 2011. Her parents, Leon and Szabina Masseus, said she has officially been in remission since April 8. When her school heard about it, they wanted to celebrate.

Szabina Masseus thought it would be a simple party with some cupcakes. But it has turned into a full celebration, all of which is now a surprise for Gioia Masseus.

"At the end, they ended up doing a bigger thing than just cupcakes," she said.

Lindsay Boujoulian, whose son is Masseus' classmate, organized the celebration for Friday at 1:30 p.m.

"She was in my son’s kindergarten class and is now in his first grade class. She came to the class midway through kindergarten with no hair going through chemo," she said.

Everything will be orange, in support of Leukemia awareness, including balloons, cupcakes and orange carnations that guests can give to the 6-year-old survivor, she said. Boujoulian also had an orange shirt made for Masseus that reads, "I stomped out Leukemia!" She said all of her classmates have been signing it while keeping it a surprise for her. 

Masseus' kindergarten class from last year and her current first grade class will be with her to celebrate along with her parents, Boujoulian said.

Masseus will also be recognized in front of the entire school at an assembly Friday morning, which is also a surprise for her. Novi Woods Principal David Ascher will bring Masseus in front of the school during the biweekly assembly. He said several students are usually honored at the assemblies for their achievements and character.

But Masseus will be picked as the one student to be honored on Friday.

"We're going to recognize her for being so brave," Ascher said. "It's a big deal for anyone to beat cancer but it's huge for a 6-year-old."

Leon and Szabina Masseus said their daughter, Gioia, is a shy but friendly girl with a warm heart, who loves her 5-year-old sister. They said they have been overwhelmed by the support from the school and community, especially when she had to miss school for her treatments.

"We don't really have family here," Szabina Masseus said. "Having this support made it a little bit easier."