James Robert Franco was born on April 29, 1991 with several developmental disorders, including epilepsy, mental retardation, brain damage, cerebral palsy, and respiratory problems. Throughout his short life of 20 years, he gave great joy and affection not only to his family, Arturo, Jere', Brie, Luke and John, but also to most of those with whom he came into contact. He attended special education classes in El Paso schools, from Dr. Green Elementary to Lincoln Junior High to Franklin High School, and always loved his teachers and classmates. Despite being confined to a wheelchair and later carrying an oxygen tank to school, he participated in regular activities, including school programs at Dr. Green Elementary and Western Hills Elementary, orchestra at Lincoln Junior High, choir and band at Franklin High School, and field trips to the symphony, the zoo, and the movies. James loved music of all kinds, and he loved being with children of his own age which was the best therapy possible.
Although he wasn't diagnosed with Joubert Syndrome until he was fourteen, James was well cared for by his doctors, including Dr. Hassan Salloum, Dr. Donald Meier, Dr. Roberto Canales, and Dr. Jim Bowden, and experienced hip, arm and back surgeries as well as several bouts of pneumonia. During his last few years, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a bowel obstruction surgery and after being revived, was confined to his bed with a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. His hospital visits became more and more frequent, but they were always made bearable by the kind and competent caring of hospital nurses, nurse's aides, physical therapists and respiratory therapists, especially those personnel at Providence Children's Hospital and Las Palmas Hospital.
Quite often students from El Paso Community College would visit and assist the nurses with their patients. We were always grateful when these gracious young men and women spent time with James and with us, his parents. This scholarship is to enable a student who has a great interest in pediatric nursing, especially for special needs children, to continue their education and contribute to the welfare of these children.
Please consider donating to the James Franco scholarship fund.