#3 Show and Tell : Haven

She walks into the classroom on Monday morning, dreading what people will think. And yet, a little excited to be the only one in class that knew what she was going to share. Actually being asked by the teacher to explain this made her little heart do flip-flops. She had a purpose that day; she was important.

When it came time for Show and Tell, she raises her hand, waiting to be acknowledged. When the teacher finally calls on her, she takes a deep breath, scoots her chair away from her desk, stands and walks to the front of the classroom. She turns to face her peers; fellow 5th-graders with their own hidden insecurities. Her insecurity, however, was not very easy to hide.

She clears her throat as she pulls a folded, crumpled piece of paper from her jeans pocket. Now, as her teacher was the obnoxiously OCD Dave Davies, Show and Tell had to be in the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How format and take up at least two minutes, with question/answer period to follow if needed. It wasn't the time allotment she was dreading; it was the bombardment of questions and critical, judgmental looks and gestures she was sure would follow.

She unfolds the paper and starts to read: "Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the two facial nerves. Each facial nerve directs the muscles on one side of the face, including those that control eye blinking and closing, and facial expressions such as smiling and frowning. Additionally, the facial nerve carries nerve impulses to the lacrimal or tear glands, the saliva glands, and the muscles of a small bone in the middle of the ear called the stapes. The facial nerve also transmits taste sensations from the tongue.



Bell's palsy occurs when the nerve that controls the facial muscles is swollen, inflamed, or compressed, resulting in facial weakness or paralysis. Exactly what causes this damage, however, is unknown. When Bell's palsy occurs, the function of the facial nerve is disrupted, causing an interruption in the messages the brain sends to the facial muscles. This interruption results in facial weakness or paralysis.

Bell's palsy is named for Sir Charles Bell, a 19th century Scottish surgeon who was the first to describe the condition. The disorder, which is not related to stroke, is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell's palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face, however, in rare cases, it can affect both sides.

Who Gets Bells Palsy?
Bell's palsy afflicts approximately 40,000 Americans each year. It affects men and women equally and can occur at any age, but it is less common before age 15 or after age 60. It disproportionately attacks pregnant women and people who have diabetes or upper respiratory ailments such as the flu or a cold."

She looks around the room before she smiles a lopsided smile. "I have Bell's Palsy," she says. "Any questions?"