Amerika

PHILADELPHIA—A Philadelphia woman who calls herself the "Black Madam" was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on allegations she administered illegal buttock-injections, procedures that authorities say caused serious medical problems in at least one case.

Giovanni Guglielmo (2006-2012) Despite his sickness and small stature, Giovanni Guglielmo was a bona fide celebrity. WATCHING HIS LIFE GO BY Gio's funeral drew friends and admirers from throughout his short life, from Hell's Angels, to doctors and teachers, to New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. It was like all of Manchester was mourning. Despite his sickness and small stature, Giovanni Guglielmo was a bona fide celebrity. In his five years, the New Hampshire native was exalted by media, blessed by the pope, and had his plump smiling face displayed over Times Square. Gio suffered from a rare immune-deficiency disorder called NEMO. As a result he sometimes lacked the energy to stand, but he inspired thousands to help others who face similar hardships, and in the process even gained such Hollywood admirers as Eva Mendes.Last March, the Phoenix profiled Gio's father, Michael Guglielmo, whose life took a wild ride from career thug to loving dad and bone-marrow crusader. It was Michael who illuminated his son's star; after Gio was diagnosed with NEMO in 2006, Michael worked endlessly to enlist potential marrow donors. What started as a mission to rescue his son continued after Gio received a cord-blood transfusion in 2007; in the past five years Michael has secured nearly 150 critical matches for strangers.It's with great respect and sadness that the Phoenix pays tribute to Gio, who died last month, and to the army of donors who joined the international bone-marrow registry because of him.IN SHOCKGio was no stranger to emergency rooms; he'd been sick for a long time. But that Sunday morning, April 15, he had suffered a rare seizure. His parents were especially concerned.Read more