Ten year-old Giana Cardonita is known for many things-her outspoken, personable attitude; her undeniable charm; and her overwhelmingly brave outlook on life in the face of life-threatening conditions.

Now Cardonita has one more thing she can add to the list-the Guilford girl got her wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to meet the famous Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro.

"It was really fun-he made my day," Cardonita said.

In August 2010, the Cardonitas family learned that Giana had a very rare brain tumor. She underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove the tennis ball-sized tumor that Yale-New Haven Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Michael DiLuna said was located in "prime real estate." The tumor left her legally blind in her right eye with no peripheral vision in her left eye; its removal compromised her pituitary gland and led to numerous health challenges today.

Cardonita is on a number of medications, including an injection of growth hormones six days a week. Running 105-degree temperature is a frequent occurrence for her, making emergency room trips common. She is under the care of a pediatrician, an endocrinologist, a neurosurgeon, an oncologist, and an ophthalmologist.

Cardonita's mother Donna Cardonita got the call from the Make-A-Wish Foundation in March, then the family threw Giana Cardonita a cake-themed surprise party to gear up for the big day with Valastro.

The day before the meeting, a Cadillac Escalade stretch limousine picked up Cardonitas Donna, Giana, and Lucio, the youngest child. They stayed at a hotel with views of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building and had a medieval-themed dinner with the other "wish kids."

Along with 10 other children and their families, the Cardonitas headed to the Cake Boss's new state-of-the-art facility to meet Valastro and his family.

"He had an assistant help us and he came around to help, too. The cake was really good. We were in the place where they are filming the next season of the Next Great Baker," Giana Cardonita said. "It was so much fun."

Cardonita said Valastro was an extremely approachable person who made sure he was able to have one-on-one time with every child there. The 11 children were not only able to make their very own cake with Valastro's assistance, but also were given a number of baked goodies and were treated to lunch.

After spending hours in the new facility, they headed to the original Carlo's Bakery, where they were able to skip to the front of the large line and were treated to some more of Valastro's creations.

Despite the tumor's being responsible for motor skills and brain processing deficits, Cardonita has kept her grades up at Baldwin Middle School.

"The tumor is also responsible for motor skill and brain processing deficits, but she's managed to get straight A's in her first year of middle school," Donna Cardonita said.

Giana Cardonita's fame has grown on the shoreline after being adopted by the Yale women's ice hockey team just over a year ago. She has her own locker and jersey and attends all the home games, getting to know and cheering on her teammates-she even has been the master of ceremonies for the past two years at the annual women' hockey banquet.

For Donna Cardonita, the Make-A-Wish experience will live on forever in her daughter's heart.

"She's on cloud nine and she's going to be on it for a while," Donna said. "For the two days she was with Buddy, the fear that the tumor was going to come back wasn't in her mind, and we are so grateful to Make-A-Wish and to Buddy for letting her feel like the most important kid in the world."

Giana Cardonita is now gearing up for her appearance on WTNH'S Connecticut Style, which she is filming on Thursday, May 3. She is also getting ready for Make-A-Wish Foundation's annual Walk for Wishes in late May at the Beardsley Zoo with her team, TEAM GIANA.

To learn more about Make-A-Wish Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.wish.org.