A Child is gone, parents mourn, and the world of Cannabis Activists, Industry Members, and Patients Pause for a Moment In Shock with the news of the passing of Charlotte – an Icon of CBD/Cannabis.
Matt and Paige Figi were living the American dream so they thought after being married and having children after meeting at Colorado State University. They traveled about and then had kids starting in 2004. Their first child Max was nearly 2 years old when they decided to have another child – a choice that would change their lives and all of ours too.
Many of us know what went on down the line, Charlotte was born on October 18, 2006 along with her twin Chase. They were perfectly healthy with no questions at all about their future at first – but as time went by they started seeing obvious differences between the two girls. “They were healthy. Everything was normal.” Paige Figi, Charlotte’s mom stated in interviews years ago, “Seizures and hospital stays began.” The twins were a mere 3 months old when the entire families lives changed forever “She was laying on her back on the floor” Matt Figi explained years ago, “her eyes started flickering and the seizure lasted about 30 minutes.”
We are unclear regarding the circumstances surrounded the untimely death of beautiful Charlotte Figi but do know it was SUDEP/Seizure related. Tears fall onto my keyboard as the glasses fog up and the attempt is made to report this to those I know do not have a clue of this as of yet. This is a monumental loss for every last person that ever thought about CBD, that has yet to use it, and that has found relief due to the legalization of a plant constituent that otherwise we would have not known of. It was Charlotte’s face I first saw after my Korean roommate spelled out ‘Cannabidiol’ and let me know the ‘Chinese herbs’ he was giving me were indeed cannabinoids – and I stopped seizing after 18 years. All because of this little girl who has no left us due to seizures.
Our world was forever changed by the courage of this young child and that of her parents. As people questioned the values, morals, and more of parents willing to go to these lengths – using cannabis for their kids – it was the Figi’s that stood out. They withstood attacks online and off. Personally I witnessed as ‘Realm of Caring’ was attacked by makers of other products that have now advanced themselves in the industry – but they never wavered in delivering the good message about plant medicine across the world with Charlotte at their sides.
The Famous August, 2013 CNN article that all should read once again:
In a Facebook post made less than an hour ago a family friend states “Charlotte is no longer suffering. She is seizure-free forever. Thank you so much for all of your love. Please respect their privacy at this time.” And that’s exactly what everyone needs to do. No journalist should be attempting to contact her parents or family – we know the value of the contribution to our world this beautiful girl provided along with her parents that were so willing to tell her story. The world of CBD and cannabis mourns as they read this shocking news but this is the reality we live with in our home. Both Genevieve and I are subject to SUDEP as well – Sudden Unexplained Death In Epilepsy Patients. 50,000 people a year die to seizures which is why my email address remains [email protected]
It’s not difficult to do a search on Charlotte Figi and know exactly who she is – so if you don’t know please do so. It’s highly likely you’ll see hundreds of articles on this and even mainstream media kicking out stories on her passing. In the world of Epilepsy we call it ‘earning your wings’ – and that’s what’s happened here. Charlotte is now seizure free forever with no need of a plant constituent or anything else. In her parents belief and in mine she’s now an angel soaring above us and watching – there to help us in times of need.
We all love you Charlotte and we’ll miss you forever.
Mike Robinson, Medicinal Cannabis Patient, Founder Global Cannabinoid Research Center. But, most of all, Genevieve’s Daddy
