From day one, I knew I wanted to introduce you to Charlotte Figi and her remarkable story.
Charlotte was born on October 18, 2006 with a rare form of epilepsy. At the age of 6, she was taking several medications which did very little to reduce her 50 a day seizures. In 2012 her parents learned about a unique strain of CBD produced by ‘The Stanley Brothers’ and drove to Boulder Colorado to purchase it. It was illegal and if caught, they would end up in jail. Within hours after the first dose, Charlotte's seizures stopped and went 30 days before having one. Her life and the lives of those around her were changed. Inspired by Charlotte's transformation, ‘The Stanley Brothers’ changed the name of that strain of CBD to 'Charlotte’s Web'. Dr. Sanjay Gupta wanted to learn more about Cannabis and documented her story on a series called 'Weed' on CNN. He learned that prior to taking CBD, Charlotte could not stand, sit-up or eat food without a feeding tube. Her parents documented these seizures, so violent they left her unresponsive and showed them to the viewing audience and the doctor. The seizures were difficult to watch and the doctor was in disbelief. Charlotte is not completley healed but she is happy. She enjoys doing things that children her age enjoy such as eating pizza, painting and gardening. Immediatley after the documentary aired, the movement to legalize Medical Marijuana began. Dr. Gupta said 'It would be cruel not to allow people this product'. Since Charlotte's began her CBD journey, several states have approved Cannabis-derived products for medical use. Cornell, Harvard and several other research institutions are conducting CBD clinical trials for pets and humans. As of November 2020, the FDA has approved 3 Cannabis-derived medications for epilepsy. Charlotte's story reinforces the importance of innovation and inspires hope to those seeking unconventional options for their health and that is why I wanted to share it.
Charlotte Figi - a friend, painter, gardener - protected by love and cultivated by strength passed away on April 7, 2020. Early in April, she was diagnosed with pneumonia, which left her weak. The seizures returned and she was eventually hospilitized. After several days God decided her message of hope had been heard, and it was finally time for her to rest. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and the medical team that cared for her. What began as her story, became a movement. Her bravery inspired compasssion and placed CBD products in the hands of those that needed them. The medical and legal community continues to research and open doors for those seeking alternative methods. Charlotte has been such an inspiration to me. Her sweet life, filled so many with hope.
I like to imagine Charlotte in a garden chasing butterflies, paint brushes in both of her hands not resting at all, but finally at peace.