Two Australian parents of an infant girl suffering from epilepsy have reported that after taking medical cannabis oil, she has made an impressive recovery.
Luella Oudshoorn is just 10 months old, but she’s already been diagnosed with West syndrome. This rare form of epilepsy causes her to experience many seizures throughout the day. When infants are diagnosed with this condition (Luella was diagnosed at only 11 weeks old), they often cannot perform typical developmental milestones such as sitting, rolling over or making noises.
According to 7News, Luella’s doctor’s were preparing to put her into a coma and remove a portion of her brain. Now that Luella has taken medical cannabis oil and experienced what her parents call “miraculous” results, there isn’t a need for drastic treatment. “When you’re in our shoes and none of the medicines are working you’ll do anything to stop the suffering of your child, absolutely anything,” Luella’s mother, Erin Oudshoorn, told 7NEWS. “It’s amazing, she can track us around the room, she responds to her name.”
When Luella first took medical cannabis, Erin and her husband David saw an overnight change in her. She became more alert and was able to hold her head up. “Life poured back into her. Pure, uninhibited joy flourishing through my home, through my family,” David said. “She knows who Dave and I are, eyes following us around the room, she squeals in delight and that little smile is back. It’s just heaven. It’s just remarkable.”
The Australians news outlet stated that there is a government-owned cultivation farm that has been used to cultivate medical cannabis crops for future study. Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall believes that this effort is only the beginning in what he expects to become the “McDonald’s of the medicinal cannabis world.” “Having a viable local industry in NSW is going to be crucial, particularly in a post-COVID-19 world. It’s a remarkable change and a long road ahead but things are looking a little bit brighter,” Marshall added.
Medical cannabis is legal in Australia, however it is only granted to those who are given access under the Special Access Scheme. Without a well-established medical cannabis program, patients are forced to pay high fees to import cannabis medicine from overseas.
