Paul Ganucci is a young man who has never been able to consume solid food. Born with Noonan syndrome — a genetic disorder that impedes a person’s physical development and can create heart defects, too — he had to have doctors place a feeding tube directly into his stomach at the tender age of 3 months old, as he was just too weak to eat.
At six months old he had to undergo heart surgery, and at just one year of age he’d already had a new heart transplanted.
As an adult Ganucci is still tube-fed and has never actually managed to eat solid food … until recently.
Ganucci is one of four siblings and has grown up in a family of faith. Although he has learning disabilities he shared his deep desire to receive his First Holy Communion. His parish pastor, Fr. Richard Kunst of St. James in Duluth, Minnesota, could see just how determined the young man was, especially after Ganucci had witnessed his niece’s First Holy Communion.
Impressed by his knowledge and strong desire, Fr. Kunst, who’d accompanied him on his receiving of the Sacrament of Reconciliation two years previously, decided to help the young Catholic on his difficult journey to receiving the Blessed Sacrament.
A strong faith
As he shared with the National Catholic Register: “I knew Paul’s faith was strong and his desire was strong.”
Ganucci’s parents were equally supportive, with his father Rob explaining to the National Catholic Register:
Paul has a very simple faith. He has great trust. We had been wanting Paul to receive all the sacraments for years, and we put it in God’s hands to determine when that time would come. Our whole family trusted that Jesus would make this happen.
It was decided that Ganucci would not receive the consecrated wine, in fear it might interfere with the medication he has to take to avoid rejecting his heart. Fr. Kunst therefore gave him a sleeve of unconsecrated hosts to practice consuming before his First Holy Communion.
It was a lengthy process, with Ganucci’s father giving his son just fragments of a host each night to try and swallow with some water. The task proved very difficult for Ganucci, with him gagging over the smallest of fragments. However, finally his perseverance paid off.
With his incredible will-power, after a few months the young man managed to consume a host that was roughly the size of a quarter. Although this was an incredible achievement, Fr. Kunst asked Ganucci to continue practicing for a further three months to avoid any gagging on a consecrated Host.