An Edmonton-area mother had a legal victory Friday, when the province ended its court battle that would have stopped her from using a marijuana derivative to treat her daughter.
Outside the law courts in Leduc, Lita Pawliw thanked supporters – after an application by the Alberta Government that would have forced her to stop using a derivative of marijuana to treat her 4-year-old daughter, who has been diagnosed with epilepsy.
“I think, and I’m hoping that they realize I was providing Natalya’s best interests,” Pawliw said.
Her family said the little girl was four months old when the seizures started, and she had been on prescription medication since. Pawliw said the meds didn’t work.
“It’s terrifying, you’re their parent and a parent is supposed to make everything better, they’re supposed to fix their kids owwies, and you’re helpless,” Pawliw said.
So, Pawliw said she turned to cannibidiol, or CBD, to treat her.
“I started it with hope for even a brief break for her body,” Pawliw said.
“She takes three pills of CBD a day, does not seize, functions, and finally passed her kindergarten assessment.”
The little girl has been taking the pills for a few months, but her mother has noticed a difference. Pawliw said she recently heard her daughter say ‘I love you’ for the first time.
“I had to wait over four years, and it’s something that parents take for granted,” Pawliw said. “It was probably one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.”
Now, the family hopes they can move forward to find a doctor and medical professional willing to work with the non-traditional treatment.
With files from Amanda Anderson
