[WATCH] New York Family Speaks Out on How Cannabis Changed Their Lives

When five-year old Beyla Pagano suffered from devastating epileptic seizures, her parents tried pharmaceutical drugs. But the drugs doped little Beyla up, like a vegetable on the couch. “She was not living a child’s life at all. Or any kind of life,” said Craig Pagano, Beyla’s dad.
Thanks to the medical cannabis product CBD hemp oil, beautiful Beyla is smiling and playing at the park.

Beyla was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes excessive fluid in the brain. Doctors didn’t expect Beyla to walk and talk, but as you can see, they were wrong.

In June 2013 when Beyla was two-years-old, she had her first seizure. It was any parent’s nightmare.

Beyla’s mom Erin Pagano found her unresponsive, like a crumpled up piece of paper on the floor, a puddle of saliva near her mouth.

Beyla was rushed to emergency care. Erin said, “They had her in a trauma unit and she was violently seizing like nothing I’d ever seen in my life.” She couldn’t bear to see her daughter like that, and fell to the floor.

“I thought she was dying,” Craig said.

Seizure emergencies are terrifying for children and their families. Even when treated, the Epilepsy Foundation said seizures can make it difficult for kids to do well in school, can cause depression and anxiety, and can lead to unexplained injuries and illnesses.

Gina Caracciolo was the lead emergency room nurse at the hospital when Beyla was rushed in with her father, Craig. She grabbed an IV to help Beyla who was severely dehydrated, and was able to “stick” it although it was tricky. She immediately bonded with the Paganos.

“From the moment I met Erin, Craig and the girls, I felt like I became a part of their family. They call me Beyla’s ‘one stick trick’,” she said. “Beyla is a really special kid. She is a sassy little beauty. She’s smart as a whip and tough as nails.”

Pharmaceuticals took away the simple joys of childhood. Beyla was nodding out on the couch. Erin and Craig wanted nothing more than for their baby girl to be able to play, laugh and fully enjoy her childhood.

Then one of Beyla’s epilepsy drugs caused anaphylaxis, an intense allergic reaction that nearly killed her. “She almost died in the ambulance ride,” Craig said.

The couple turned to Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO), a highly concentrated hemp oil produced by HempMeds. Her parents say that Beyla takes two milliliters per day – sometimes with a scoop of ice cream.

“Within the first month, it was a lot of positive change,” Craig said. Suddenly, Beyla could power through each day like a champ, and had notable improvements at school. She can smile in the sunshine and enjoy family fun.

Caracciolo, Beyla’s nurse, said: “She was able to function again.  Her personality was beginning to shine through again. It really was pretty amazing to see. It was also amazing to see her neurology team embrace the fact that this treatment was working, and I remember the hospital even allowing the Paganos to bring her CBD oil in so that the nurses on the admitting units could administer her the CBD oil as a non-formulary medication.” Caracciolo was later involved in fundraisers to help the Pagano family get CBD oil for Beyla.

Indiana recently approved a measure to help kids like Beyla by allowing the use of CBD hemp oil to treat epileptic seizures.

“I feel that we have pretty concrete evidence that [hemp oil] has helped her,” said Erin. Craig said Beyla can play with the other kids again.

“It’s amazing, amazing, amazing,” Craig said. “She’s a child now.” See Beyla’s genuine smile for yourself, and share her story.