Gianna Molla was born on October 4th 1922 in the Kingdom of Italy. In 1942, she began to study medicine in Milan. Gianna opened an office in Mesero, where she specialized in pediatrics after she received her medical diploma in 1942. She married Pietro Molla, an engineer who worked in her office in September 1955. They had 3 children between 1956 and 1959. In 1961, Gianna became pregnant again. During the pregnancy, she developed a fibroma (type of tumor) on her uterus. After examining the fibroma, her doctor gave her 3 choices: an abortion, a complete hysterectomy or the removal of the fibroma. The abortion would have killed the unborn child and would have allowed her to continue having children. The hysterectomy would have killed the unborn child and would have prevented her from having other children. The removal of the fibroma could have resulted in her death but would have saved her child's life. Gianna decided to have the fibroma removed even if it resulted in her death because she believed her child's life was more important than her own. After the surgery, Gianna suffered several complications throughout her pregnancy. During the pregnancy, she remained clear about her wishes telling her family "this time it will be a difficult delivery, and they may have to save one or the other -- I want them to save my baby." On April 21st 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born by Caesarean section. Although her baby was healthy, Gianna continued to suffer and 7 days after her daughter was born, she died of septic peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity).
Pope John Paul II beatified Gianna in 1994 and canonized her in 2004. She is recognized as the patron saint of mothers, physicians and unborn children.
I believe St. Gianna's story is relevant today because she is a great example of someone who displayed incredible love, sacrifice and respect to life. Gianna knew the risks when she decided to continue with her pregnancy. It did not matter that her life would be in danger, she wanted to do what was right for her child. Her story is especially relevant today because of all of the controversy surrounding abortion. Society is divided into ''pro-choice'' and ''pro-life''. The first, meaning they believe the mothers should be able to decide what to do about their pregnancy, and the second meaning they believe the life of the unborn child must be preserved. Obviously, Gianna was ''pro-life'' and her decision to save her child's life was a true act of love. She loved her baby so much that she put its needs before her own. As a Catholic, Gianna would not even consider having an abortion. Although the Catholic Church would have allowed her to have a hysterectomy because it would not intentionally kill the unborn child, Gianna chose to put her own life in danger. She was in no way required to have the fibroma removed, but she did it anyways so that her child could live. This sacrifice was out of love for her baby. As a mother, Gianna knew that her child's needs were more important than her own. 
The lesson we can take from St. Gianna's story is that life is extremely important and we must put not only the ones we love before ourselves but others as well. Her sacrifice is both similar and different from that of Maximilian Kolbe's because he died for a complete stranger but she died for her daughter, even though she did not know her. She teaches mothers and fathers that as parents, they are required to make a commitment and dedication to their children. Resources:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6985
http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/sites/cliniciansbrief.com/files/BacterialSepticPeritonitis.pdf
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