Nine year old Alexis Bortell is making waves in Texas as she fights for the legalization of cannabis to help her combat her epilepsy. Alexis has been in a mortal battle with epilepsy since 2013.
Her father Dean Bortell, a U.S. Navy vet, gives his account of her first seizure, “We were folding clothes and all of a sudden I hear my wife scream. I look over and Alexis has literally gone vertical. She’s stiff as a board and mom’s holding her. We get her down on the couch and she’s shaking.”
Alexis’ family rushed her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed the drug Carbatrol. But Carbatrol only made matters worse according to Mr. Bortell. “It was terrible. Her seizures went from mainly at night to around the clock,” he said.
Alexis singing a poster at a protest that reads, “Let Marijuana Help Alexis Bortell.”
The subsequent prescription of another drug called Depakote caused tremors, spasms and personality alterations, while remaining ineffective at stopping the seizures. After complications continued and doctors ordered her off the medications, Mr. Bortell recognized that the pharmaceutical drugs weren’t helping. Now relying solely on a supply of rescue medication, the family remains concerned about their daughters health risk.
“If the big one does come, what are we going to do? I mean that scares us more than anything,” said Mr. Bortell. The Bortell family found hope in one “drug” (plant) known to help with seizures which our faithful readers can probably guess – cannabis.
The Bortell family luckily happened upon CNN’s “Weed 2” hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a documentary on the medical benefits of cannabis. From the documentary the family learned how the use of oils made from cannabis can be used to stop seizures from occurring, all without the nasty side effects of the pharmaceutical meds that had already failed them (not to mention cannabis is far less expensive than pharmaceutical medication).
After doing their own research, meeting with neurologists, and spending some time in Colorado, the family was able to get Alexis a doctor recommended “red-card” from the state, allowing her use of cannabis for medication. “She is a legal patient in Colorado,” said Mr. Bortell. “She has been evaluated by two specialists who believe medical cannabis is her best shot at a normal childhood.”
The problem the family now faces is their residence in Texas, where even medicinal cannabis is still prohibited. In fact, Texas has even harsher penalties for the oils and tinctures Alexis would use to cure her seizures.
But Alexis isn’t going to let mean old Texas stop her from getting the medication she needs. The 9 year old has become a symbol of the medicinal cannabis movement in Texas, branding herself with a “Team Alexis” Facebook page and merchandise in support of the cause. She has appeared in front of crowds of activists informing people about her epilepsy and how cannabis can help with her condition.
Watching her speeches, it’s easy to understand why the crowd gets so fired up in support for her cause. Alexis went with other activists last Tuesday to meet with legislators at the Texas Capitol to lobby for medicinal cannabis. It is still up in there air how legislators will proceed with legislation, but the activism of this intelligent young girl and her family may be just what Texas needs to turn public opinion in favor of legalized medical cannabis in the Lone Star State.
Watch one of her speeches below to see for yourself:
Tags: activism, cannabis oil, children, colorado, epilepsy, legalization, parenting, prescription drugs, prohibition, seizures, Texas.
By:
Zakary Grey. Permalink: 
Shortlink: http://weedi.st/ETgMh