Harper, Hemp, and Seizures: Our hopes being realized?
On Monday, April 14 Harper had a 24 hour Video Electroencephalography (VEEG). EEG refers to the recording of the brain’s spontaneous electrical activity over a period of time. VEEG can detect abnormal brain activity like seizures. Her last VEEG was in December 2012. At that time Harper showed a “severely abnormal” background EEG and over 40 seizures in a 24 hours time frame. Of those seizures we were seeing 10 to 12 visibly.
In July 2013 we reached out to HempMedsPx regarding Industrial Hemp Oil (also known as RSHO) as a legal alternative to Charlotte’s Web Medical Marijuana and in September 2013 we added the Industrial Hemp Oil Supplement to Harper’s daily routine. Six months later, as of March 1, 2014 we have not seen Harper have any visible seizures. We were excited, and counted each day with caution and hopeful optimism.
What about the unseen seizures?
Harper’s recent April 14th VEEG revealed shocking results. Her background EEG is still considered “abnormal” which is to be expected with CDKL5 disorder. HOWEVER, the background EEG has dramatically improved in comparison to December 2012. In addition, there are ten or less abnormal “episodes” that cannot be classified as clinical seizures.
Harper’s progress on the Industrial Hemp Oil Supplement is as follows:
Week Prior to start: 64 visible seizures
Week 1: 28 visible seizures
Week 2: ZERO visible seizures
Week 3: 17 visible seizures
Week 4: 11 visible seizures
NOTE: We then averaged about 35 seizures per week (3 to 5 per day compared to our 10 to 12 prior to adding Industrial Hemp Oil Supplement) Now at six months plus we have the above mentioned VEEG results and we are seeing no visible seizures!
Her smile used to mean a seizure
More than the amazing decline in seizure activity, what these results confirmed for us is that Harper understands us and is in fact interacting with us. After more than six months of having RHSO in Harper’s daily life, it’s all about her smile. When she smiles now, it is truly in response to us, and not a seizure as it had been in the past.
WHAT A BLESSING!! We are in shock and pure amazement remaining cautiously optimistic. We don’t know the length of time Harper can maintain this never before achieved level of seizure control. This gift allows her to improve her physical and mental abilities more every day…and we have a front-row seat.