Edinburgh Mother Fights For Medical Cannabis: Transforming Her Son's Life From Hundreds Of Seizures To Seizure-free Years

By Author: Sativa Bliss Canabis
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In an inspiring turnaround, a mother from Edinburgh, Karen Gray, has witnessed a life-altering transformation in her son's health. Battling "hundreds" of seizures daily, her son, Murray, found respite through medicinal cannabis treatment back in 2019. Since then, not a single seizure has plagued him, marking a remarkable shift in his condition.

Karen Gray shared her family's journey, highlighting the impact of the treatment that became accessible following the UK's regulatory changes in 2018. While the option of medicinal cannabis on the NHS became available, not everyone received the funding for this critical treatment, including Karen's son, Murray. To ensure his well-being, the Gray family shoulders the weight of a staggering £1000 per month, a cost shared by many families across the UK facing similar challenges.

Expressing her frustration at the disparity in access, Karen emphasized, "The law changed five years ago, but unfortunately, not everyone is benefiting. For my son Murray, we've been financially responsible for the treatment for the last five years, spending over £1000 monthly." She added, "Only three ...
... children in the entire UK receive this treatment free of charge. We're rallying for fairness, questioning why some get funded while others are left struggling."

In a significant move to advocate for wider access to this life-changing therapy, Karen, alongside others, plans to gather at Parliament on the five-year anniversary of the law change. Their aim is to petition and engage MPs to drive progress and equity in medicinal cannabis accessibility.

Karen vividly recounted the harrowing experiences her son faced before the treatment, describing his multiple seizure types, each one more distressing than the last. Murray endured episodes of losing consciousness, convulsions, drop seizures causing physical harm, and terrifying seizures akin to electric shocks. However, since commencing the cannabis oil treatment in March 2019, Murray's life took a positive turn, with his last seizure occurring in June of that year.

While celebrating her son's seizure-free period, Karen highlighted the financial strain on her family. "A monthly cost of £1000, especially with three children, is akin to maintaining another mortgage. Some parents have sold their homes or jewelry, resorting to fundraising every month," she expressed, reflecting the immense sacrifices families make for their children's well-being.

Despite the challenges, Karen remains optimistic, sharing her hope that Murray's condition will continue to improve, considering that 50% of children eventually outgrow the syndrome. She underlined, "Murray's journey started with extremely severe seizures, and the progress he's made gives us hope for the future."