What would you do if your child had thirty seizures a week? What if those violent convulsions delayed his development, disrupting his movement and balance. What if he could barely sleep or swallow and things just seemed to get worse by the day?
Would you move heaven and earth to save him?
Crystal and Eric Byrd did just that.
This week the Byrds packed up their lives, moving from Kentucky to Colorado all for their son Charlie. Charlie has Dravet's Syndrome, a genetic epilepsy that often resists treatment. In Colorado their boy can access Charlotte's Web, a low THC cannabis oil not yet legal in Kentucky that has some kids beating Dravet's. He took his first dose last night.
The Kindergartner takes four anticonvulsants that appear to be doing more harm than good. Crystal believes their side effects are slowly killing her son.
Though the Byrds would do anything to help their son, including move clear across the country, they are not happy about having to do so. They did not want to leave behind all they hold dear: their home, their friends, their church. They'd probably rather not have to navigate a new state's special needs services and those epically long waiting lists. They want Charlotte's Web legal right here in Kentucky so that the family can come back home. As it stands now, if they even step outside Colorado borders with Charlie's oil they could be arrested for drug trafficking. Drug trafficking an oil that wouldn't get you high if you drank a bucket of it!
Over the next few weeks the Byrds should know if Charlotte's Web proves to be a miracle elixir for Charlie as it has for other children. Meanwhile, in Kentucky advocates support legislation that could help Charlie come home. It could also grant thousands of autistic and epileptic children across the commonwealth access to CBD oil.
The Byrds will keep us posted on Charlie's progress with Charlotte's Web.
Help The Byrds Come Home
If you live in Kentucky please take the following actions:
1. Contact Kentucky's legislative line at 502-564-8100. Leave the message for the senators and representatives on the Health & Welfare committee to support a bill legalizing CBD Oil extracts for autism and epilepsy in Kentucky.
2. Call the legislative line at 502-564-8100. Give the operator your zipcode then ask him or her to ask your senator and representative to support the medical marijuana bill.
3.Sign the petition asking the Kentucky state legislature Health and Welfare committees in both chambers, House leader Greg Stumbo, and Governor Steve Beshear to support legislation allowing Kentucky children with autism and epilepsy access to CBD oil.
