The victories seen in 2012 had more to do with the ministry rather than Anissa, but both are intertwined.  Having experienced over 821 seizures that year, with 407 being the worse destructive kind, each lasting four to ten minutes, the stress factor hit a record high.  The amazing thing is how well she always looked and stayed physically strong — yet my hope for a miraculous change remained!

Hopes for a change in 2013 concerning Anissa were high.  It began in January when I first learned about Fuel For Thought (MCT-Coconut Oil), which was proven to raise Ketones.  Anissa began two ounces daily but in order to keep a 24-hour balance, the dosage needed to be increased to four times daily.  In doing this, she developed a severe digestive disturbance and the dose had to be lowered to once a day. Even so, there remained a change in her alertness and recognition, as well as less allergies.  The autism characteristics were also miraculously altered, but no change in the seizure activity.

With the greater challenge in caring for Anissa 24/7, the Prayer Clinic open four days a week, and searching for a couple to oversee our retreat center, I was ready for the joyous breakthrough that came forth in June.  It was a definite answer to our fervent prayers when contact was made with Tom Winslow, an ordained minister for over 20 years, and wife Barbara, a Registered Nurse.  Since they were Directors of Pensacola Healing Rooms for seven years and Regional Directors of the International Association Southeastern Healing Rooms, we thought they might know of a responsible couple to oversee our healing center.  When they could not recall anyone who might be interested, I said, “What about you two?”  Tom sort of laughed as he mentioned about their plate being already full.  But God had other plans! After a time of fasting, with prayer and a commitment to know and do the Lord’s will, it became evident the Lord was calling them to be our new Directors.  

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

 John 15:16 NKJV  

Within a month’s time, I heard a news report concerning magnetoencephalography or MEG Scan — an imaging technique that identifies brain activity and measures small magnetic fields produced in the brain to pinpoint the source of seizures.  After receiving word that Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando had the MEG Scan and was opening its doors to adults suffering with seizures, Anissa at age 46, was accepted and evaluated.  Without hesitating, the neurologist said: “She needs a corpus colostomy!  It may not alleviate all seizures, but it could lessen the severity of them.”  I was very disappointed when he said the scan would only be used during the surgery and not prior to an operation.   When I responded that a corpus colostomy [also called “split brain”] operation was not considered in the past due to her combatant behavior, the doctor looked at Anissa and said:  “Well, she’s no more than a zombie now!”  Shocked to hear such words, I asked if he had looked at the video previously sent to him.  When he answered in the negative, the nurse presented the video to him. He became more irritated when his computer refused to work properly.  I offered my camcorder that was already set to view, just in case there was a mishap during the consultation. He said that it wasn’t necessary and instructed the nurse to answer any questions concerning an operation, then he quickly exited the room.  The nurse suggested more prayer before making a decision. The following week, Anissa experienced some very combative episodes, plus an entire day of tonic seizures – the type referred to by the neurologist that may not be alleviated by the surgery. I wondered if it was God’s way of showing how difficult it could be after such a surgical procedure?

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” James 1:16-18 NKJV

It was during that time period when CNN had a special report regarding Charlotte’s Web, a constituent of marijuana/hemp with less THC and higher CBD, being used to control seizures in children with LGS.  Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, hosted the program with special guest, Dr. Alan Shackelford, a Harvard trained physician and one of the nation’s foremost experts on medical marijuana.  After seeing a video of Anissa’s seizures and viewing her medical records, as well as reading her story, Dr. Shackelford wanted to personally meet her. As I prayed to know God’s will concerning the request, the Holy Spirit led me to Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”  That Word gave me great peace of mind that I was going in the right direction.

The visitation was set up by Consumer Law Services.   Their firm worked in collaboration with expert physicians and to assist patients in determining whether they are complying with the Doctrine of Medical Necessity.   It was important to have a valid legal defense before using medical marijuana, also known as cannabis/CBD. On Sunday, December 15, 2013, Dr. Shackelford made a “house call”, along with the legal team, to see Anissa.   The doctor’s attitude greatly impressed me as to how he listened very carefully to every detail in my answering of his questions. Before the visit ended, I was privileged to pray with them and give each one a copy of Isaiah 43:21.   Since that day, it is my understanding that this doctor spends much of his time in Israel, working with a pharmaceutical company concerning the production of cannabis/CBD.  Their visit greatly encouraged me to pursue that open door to try the CBD with Anissa. In my heart, the faith I had was in the Lord’s pathway of healing for Anissa and not the CBD, so any success would depend upon the power of His Excellent Grace!

To contact Anissa’s mother email her at blawyerlogos@bellsouth.net

To take a virtual tour of the healing center go to http://www.wellspringhealingretreat.org