As a parent of a child, receiving a “life-limiting” diagnosis is devastating. After months of hundreds of infantile spasms per day, we knew we had to try something different, something doctors were not initially on board with, especially with Melody being only nine months old. The two front-line medications did not stop her spasms, so we took a leap of faith and followed our gut instincts, bought a bottle of Charlotte’s Web CBD extract and, with the help from the Realm of Caring we figured out her dose based on her weight. She was not one of the “miracle stories” where the seizures stopped after the first dose, but we were prepared to give CBD a real chance to work, so we agreed to try it for three full months. She continued to have seizures, but after three weeks of Charlottes Web, we saw noticeable improvements in her cognitive development. She started sitting up on her own and was babbling again, a few skills she had lost after the seizures started. After seven weeks on Charlotte’s Web, her infantile spasms stopped altogether and since that date, she has continued to improve in all areas, much to the surprise of her doctors. A little girl with Aicardi Syndrome who we were told would never crawl, walk, or talk is now dancing, taking long walks outside, running, and has learned about 40 words. We decided to wean Melody off of Sabril and her last dose was September 2016; so she is now only taking Charlotte’s Web and she is beating the odds, one milestone and one word at a time.
We are over the moon watching our Aircardi princess love her life. Melody gives kisses and hugs and smiles and sings, and we know in our hearts she would not be doing these things without Charlotte’s Web. Her story gives hope and has encouraged other families to try CBD oil and has helped change lives of other children struggling with seizures. We could not be more proud of our girl and her resilience and we look forward to her future, something doctors warned us may not be possible. Charlotte’s Web continues to be the best decision we ever made for our sweet Melly and we remain forever grateful to the Stanley Brothers and everyone at the Realm of Caring and CW hemp.