A West Cork mother is calling on the Minister for Health to help her ease her daughter’s suffering – with the help of cannabis.
By BRIAN MOORE
A WEST Cork mother is calling on the Minister for Health to help her ease her daughter’s suffering – with the help of cannabis.
Ava Twomey (6) from Aghabullogue near Coachford
has endured multiple epileptic fits and seizures on a daily basis since she was four months old and her mother Vera believes she has found a product that will ease Ava’s pain.
‘Ava has been to so many doctors and specialists, and while they have all been very kind and have done their best, there has been no change and Ava continues to suffer,’ Vera told The Southern Star.
‘She is currently on 11 different forms of medication and only last Saturday she suffered 20 seizures over a 24 hour period.’
However, Vera has found that Charlotte’s Web cannabis oil, which is manufactured in Colorado, offers some hope for her daughter.
‘We were able to buy, legally, a bottle of Charlotte’s Web cannabis oil from a shop in Dublin. After consulting with a doctor, we discovered the correct dosage for Ava, and we have found that there is a clear change in her condition,’ Vera continued.
While Vera admits that Charlotte’s Web is not in any way a cure for Ava, she has noticed a huge difference in her daughter’s condition.
‘Since we started using the oil, Ava is more active, alert and interactive and most importantly of all, she is smiling more,’ Vera said.
While Charlotte’s Web is not illegal in Ireland, Vera wants the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to put forward legislation to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis oil which contains the element tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is illegal.
‘We have started an online petition, and we have over 13,000 signatures already from people right across the world. All I want to do is to ease my daughter’s suffering and give her a chance at a life beyond the seizures and the pain.
‘I am calling on Minister Simon Harris to help, not only Ava, but all the other parents out there that are in the same situation as us. We just want to help our children,’ Vera concluded.
