A woman from Tucson, Arizona, says cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) treated her 12-year-old daughter of life-threatening seizures. The young girl suffers from a rare brain disorder and slipped into a coma after she vomited and had a seizure following a gymnastics competition. [1]
Annalise Lujan’s parents rejoiced after only 3 CBD oil treatments brought their daughter out of her coma and halted her crippling seizures.
Her mom, Maryann, said the speed at which their daughter’s illness forever changed her life was stunning.
“One day, she was just a healthy young lady, going to school, participating in her community and her gymnastics, and the next day – fighting for her life.” [2]
Dad Paul said:
“We had no idea that our whole world would be 180-degrees turned around in such devastation, such heartache, such confusion.”
A Young Life Almost Cut Short
On April 2, 2017, Annalise had been competing in a Tucson gymnastics competition. By the child’s fourth event, Maryann said, “she just couldn’t move. She couldn’t walk. She was just exhausted, tired, not feeling well.”
Maryann and Paul took Annalise to Banner UMC, where doctors believed Annalise had a stomach virus, and sent her home. The next night, Annalise had her first seizure, and her parents took her back to the medical center. Once again, doctors sent her home. She was finally admitted to intensive care the following morning, but only after suffering more seizures.
Read: Cannabidiol-Based Medication Reduces Intense Seizures by 50%
Maryann said Annalise was placed on a ventilator, and she and Paul had no communication with the girl for weeks.
Source: The Sun
Eighteen days later, Annalise was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she was quickly diagnosed with an extremely rare disorder known as FIRES – Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome.
Paul said:
“They say 1 in 1 million children will get this syndrome, and that’s how rare it is.”
The charity Rare Diseases says on its website that FIRES causes children to unexpectedly suffer up to hundreds of seizures a day within 2 weeks after contracting a mild febrile illness, such as a cold or cough. Not much is known about the disease, but experts believe it is caused by inflammation in the body or autoimmune disorders. [3]
Desperate to bring Annalise out of her coma, Annalise’s doctor began treating her with cannabis oil, which Maryann said saved the youngster’s life.
Less than 48 hours after her first treatment, Annalise’s seizures had nearly stopped. [1]
Read: Marijuana Helps 6-Year-Old Beat Severe Seizures, Places Pharmaceuticals
Maryann recalled the moment her Annalise emerged from her coma:
“She opened her eyes, and she was scared. She was afraid. She cried. And, I whispered to her that she was very strong, she’s beautiful, and she’s strong, and she needed to keep breathing, and she did.” [2]
Annalise’s doctor had to seek rapid approval from the FDA and DEA. Maryann and Paul hope their daughter’s case-study can help other children living with FIRES.
Maryann said:
“We have a long recovery ahead of us. But, we’re definitely on the right track now.”
Sources:
[1] The Sun
[2] NBC News Tucson
[3] Deccan Chronicle