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Friday, November 19, 2021 5 Brooklin Town Crier Franca Lanteri was six years old when she woke up one morning paralyzed on one side of her body. In the ensuing panic any parent could empathize with, it was first thought she'd had a grand mal epileptic seizure or perhaps a stroke. A battery of tests and an MRI showed no tumor and so she was said to have been stricken with Bell's Palsy. However, the seizures continued. Two years later, a doctor determined that in fact she did have a brain tumor, one that controls the left side of her body, and that her brain stem was damaged. It was further discovered that, while this rare type of tumor was non-cancerous and normally found in the elderly, it was also likely to be permanent. Diseases developed In subsequent years, Franca has developed type 2 diabetes, an inflammatory brain disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder. Yet despite her trying medical issues, this grade 10 student at All Saints Catholic Secondary School has amazed everyone in her orbit with her positive outlook. For instance, a school-based group of females called The Riveters has thrown its support behind her as has an organization called Million Dollar Smiles, a non-profit group that grants wishes to non-terminal kids. For The Riveters, it's the first time they've recognized one of their own in the school. Another group, Inspire Always on Instagram created a page and story on Franca. As Dal Lanteri, Franca's mother, explains, "Suddenly everyone is recognizing my daughter's courage through all this. There can never be enough thank-yous." Growing up The medical journey has included multiple and frequent trips to Sick Kids Hospital. Through it all, however, Franca has remained upbeat. "She's had to grow up quickly," her mother says. "She looks at everything as a positive." How positive? Franca has already planned her postsecondary route to a career in the medical field, hopefully at Sick Kids. Even with the numerous hospital visits, she did not want to miss school. Her mantra became, "I can't fail. I won't allow myself to fail." To that end, she's created an Instagram page called "Just Me" to reach out to others with similar medical challenges. Family pressures Naturally, there's been a strain on this Brooklin family with Dad Enzo working nights and Franca's brother Paolo, a grade seven student at St. Bridget's, having to endure the roller coaster of emotions of seeing his big sister ill. But Franca, who her mother says is a social butterfly, is dealing with the problems by engaging in school activities like drama and even joining the in-house Riveters group which has shown her such kindness. Meanwhile, word has it the Million Dollar Smiles organization is planning a surprise for Franca in the near future. It will be yet another on Dal Lanteri's list of thank yous, while Franca is likely to accept it in the same spirit she's accepted everything else: with smiles and a determination to forge on. Franca Lanteri: The Face of Courage Franca is tested at Sick Kids for diabetes (left to right) Franca, Paolo, Dal, Enzo