Emily Franklin, a senior at Scottsbluff High School, made up her mind years ago that she wanted to someday be a nurse. The reason is because of the love and care she received from all of her nurses and doctors while battling Trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic condition that gives her sudden, severe facial pain. The last four years in high school, Franklin has been doing everything she can to advance her nursing knowledge and skills, including last year becoming certified as a CNA and Med Aide and this year becoming president of her school’s future health professionals organization, HOSA. After high school, Franklin plans to attend WNCC, where she’ll take the next step toward pursuing her dream of becoming a NICU nurse.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Every now and then, the cranial nerves in Emily Franklin’s brain become swollen, and when they touch each other, her face starts to go numb.
“It’s similar to when your foot falls asleep except it’s 30 times worse,” she said.
The numbness, however, isn’t Franklin’s biggest issue when her nerves became swollen. It’s the severe pain that shoots through her face from her ear to her cheek area.
“The pain is excruciating,” she said. “It feels like you’re getting electrocuted.”
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