Robert Celt
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Six months after putting her daughter on medical marijuana Baytown Township resident Kristy Kargel doesn't regret the decision.
Kargel's 10-year-old daughter Emily had her first suspected seizure 16 hours after her birth in March 2005. The seizures worsened, and she's had frequent seizures ever since.
For years, the Kargels couldn't get a specific diagnosis, although they had generic diagnoses of intractable epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Thanks to genetic sequencing, Emily was recently diagnosed with a rare mutation of the SCN2a gene.
After unsuccessfully trying 24 seizure medications, plus other treatments, Kargel and her husband were ready to give almost anything a shot. Kargel joined the fight to convince the Minnesota Legislature to legalize medical cannabis in 2014, and she shared her story in a Gazette article published March 21, 2014.
When medical marijuana became legal in Minnesota on July 1, 2015, Kargel was among the first to have access to it.
"The day that it launched, we drove down to Minneapolis (to pick up the first dose)," she said.
Six months later, the results haven't been what she hoped, but Kargel said the treatments haven't been in vain.
"I can't say that we've seen seizure improvement, which is a real bummer for us," Kargel said Jan. 5. "But we have seen quality of life improvements."
Emily used to suffer from what was apparently severe anxiety that often caused her to cry and be upset when the family would leave home. Now that doesn't happen much.
"That was a quality of life change for our whole family," Kargel said.
She said Emily, who enjoys going to fifth grade at Lake Elmo Elementary, has also been more engaged with the world around her, and others have noticed.
"In the last six months, people are like, 'What are you doing different?'" Kargel said. "She's been so connected. She just doesn't look vacant, and people have noticed that."
Perhaps just as importantly, Kargel hasn't noticed severe side effects, as with some other medications. A trial drug Emily is also taking has slightly improved seizure control, but has caused severe discomfort.
"Is it worth her being completely miserable and uncomfortable just so we can make seizures a little bit better?" Kargel said. "Our goal with Emily is to provide her with the best quality of life we can."
Toward that end, the Kargels have been tweaking the ratios of cannabinoid chemicals in Emily's medication to achieve the best results. But the new and highly regulated industry in Minnesota doesn't offer as many options as some companies in other states, Kristy Kargel said. But she believes more options will come with research.
Although medical marijuana is now legal in Minnesota, it isn't covered by insurance, and it isn't cheap. Emily's twice-daily dose, administered through a feeding tube, costs about $250 every two weeks.
"You can't write a check for it," Kargel said. "You can't use a credit card. It's cash."
Cash is required because banks and credit card companies are wary of medical cannabis transactions, which are legal under state law but still barred by federal law.
Kargel said the family is fortunate it can afford the medication, but does make sacrifices for it.
Although she cautions that cannabis is "not the magical cure for everything," Kargel said it has been worthwhile for her family.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota: 6 Months On Medical Marijuana; Baytown Mother Has No Regrets
Author: Jonathan Young
Contact: Stillwater Gazette
Photo Credit: Jonathan Young
Website: Stillwater Gazette
Kargel's 10-year-old daughter Emily had her first suspected seizure 16 hours after her birth in March 2005. The seizures worsened, and she's had frequent seizures ever since.
For years, the Kargels couldn't get a specific diagnosis, although they had generic diagnoses of intractable epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Thanks to genetic sequencing, Emily was recently diagnosed with a rare mutation of the SCN2a gene.
After unsuccessfully trying 24 seizure medications, plus other treatments, Kargel and her husband were ready to give almost anything a shot. Kargel joined the fight to convince the Minnesota Legislature to legalize medical cannabis in 2014, and she shared her story in a Gazette article published March 21, 2014.
When medical marijuana became legal in Minnesota on July 1, 2015, Kargel was among the first to have access to it.
"The day that it launched, we drove down to Minneapolis (to pick up the first dose)," she said.
Six months later, the results haven't been what she hoped, but Kargel said the treatments haven't been in vain.
"I can't say that we've seen seizure improvement, which is a real bummer for us," Kargel said Jan. 5. "But we have seen quality of life improvements."
Emily used to suffer from what was apparently severe anxiety that often caused her to cry and be upset when the family would leave home. Now that doesn't happen much.
"That was a quality of life change for our whole family," Kargel said.
She said Emily, who enjoys going to fifth grade at Lake Elmo Elementary, has also been more engaged with the world around her, and others have noticed.
"In the last six months, people are like, 'What are you doing different?'" Kargel said. "She's been so connected. She just doesn't look vacant, and people have noticed that."
Perhaps just as importantly, Kargel hasn't noticed severe side effects, as with some other medications. A trial drug Emily is also taking has slightly improved seizure control, but has caused severe discomfort.
"Is it worth her being completely miserable and uncomfortable just so we can make seizures a little bit better?" Kargel said. "Our goal with Emily is to provide her with the best quality of life we can."
Toward that end, the Kargels have been tweaking the ratios of cannabinoid chemicals in Emily's medication to achieve the best results. But the new and highly regulated industry in Minnesota doesn't offer as many options as some companies in other states, Kristy Kargel said. But she believes more options will come with research.
Although medical marijuana is now legal in Minnesota, it isn't covered by insurance, and it isn't cheap. Emily's twice-daily dose, administered through a feeding tube, costs about $250 every two weeks.
"You can't write a check for it," Kargel said. "You can't use a credit card. It's cash."
Cash is required because banks and credit card companies are wary of medical cannabis transactions, which are legal under state law but still barred by federal law.
Kargel said the family is fortunate it can afford the medication, but does make sacrifices for it.
Although she cautions that cannabis is "not the magical cure for everything," Kargel said it has been worthwhile for her family.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota: 6 Months On Medical Marijuana; Baytown Mother Has No Regrets
Author: Jonathan Young
Contact: Stillwater Gazette
Photo Credit: Jonathan Young
Website: Stillwater Gazette
