On today’s Family Friday, we’re excited to share that our ECHO Family member Lillyann Baker started pre-Kindergarten in Dundalk, Maryland earlier this month. Multiple news outlets, including NBC News Baltimore and WBALTV.com, were there to cover the occasion. Lillyann’s mother and teachers were excited to celebrate the milestone, as it demonstrated how far Lillyann has come after a challenging start to her young life.
As an infant, Lillyann suffered a severe brain injury that required doctors to put her in a medically induced coma for two weeks. After waking, Lillyann began experiencing severe seizures that remained resistant to traditional medications. For months, Lillyann suffered from dozens of seizures. Determined to find a solution, Lillyann’s mother, Cassandra Stephan, turned to cannabidiol (CBD) hemp oil.
CBD hemp oil is derived from the stalks and seeds of high-CBD, low-THC hemp. Several recent studies have found CBD to be beneficial for reducing seizure activity, even in refractory pediatric epilepsy disorders. Because hemp contains only trace amount of THC, CBD hemp oil products are non-psychoactive and have no intoxicating effects. Lillyann takes an oral form of CBD hemp oil every morning.
Now three-years-old, Lillyann has made remarkable progress since starting on CBD hemp oil about two years ago. The effects of the CBD product were immediate.
“I decided to put her on… hemp oil, and since then she has been seizure-free for almost two years,” Lillyann’s mother, Cassandra Stephan, told WBALTV.com.
Earlier this month, teachers at Battle Monument Elementary School welcomed Lillyann back for another year of learning. Erika Oertle, Lillyan’s teacher, told the news outlet that she’s noticed significant improvements in the three-year-old.
“She’s so much more alert. She’s awake. She’s excited to be here,” Oertle explained. “It’s night and day.”
You can learn more about Lillyann’s story, and the stories of other children who have found relief with CBD, through our ECHO Families page.
ECHO Connection’s sponsorship program connects the families of sick children with the healing properties of CBD hemp oil through generous donations. If you or someone you know could benefit from cannabinoids, read about how to become an ECHO Sponsored Family and what to know when applying. We’re proud to have sponsored 22 families so far.
Want to learn more about CBD and its potential antiepileptic properties? Please visit our education page.
