Medical marijuana (cannabis – CBD) was a controversial subject throughout 2014 in the state of Florida.  Since Anissa’s condition complied with the Doctrine of Medical Necessity, it was a year of experimenting with various strains of cannabis.

 Always on the first day of dosage, she would experience a positive sign of mental alertness.  By the second or third day, negative signs occurred with greater seizure activity which altered the uplift and created a more depressed state.  Evidently, the THC, which causes the hype, must be as low as 1% compared to a higher percentage of CBD as is used in the Charlotte’s Web formula to successfully treat children suffering with uncontrollable seizures.  

The designated legal care-grower supplying Anissa with the CBD said that seeds of the Charlotte’s Web strain were nearly impossible to find.   It was his opinion that breeders knew the value of those seeds so were limiting the release of such. Finally, in 2016, Charlotte’s Web was approved by Florida’s Governor and made available in mid-March for Anissa when the seeded plant was secured from a grower in California.

 It was a trial and error treatment throughout many months – always hoping for a positive breakthrough! After several weeks, when her seizures began to escalate in number and velocity, it was evident that much research needed to be done concerning adults suffering with LGS (Lennox Gastaut Syndrome), as compared with a child or adolescent.  One thing I have learned from personal afflictions, as well as from people coming for prayer at our Clinic, is that compassion for others is a key to healing.

“What a wonderful God we have – He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials.  And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass onto them this same help and comfort God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 TLB

Since it had been over nine years when Anissa had an MRI, I decided to start the process in June, 2016, for the scan be done.  Because she had to be anesthetized for the MRI, it required a doctor who could admit her to the hospital, so this meant changing to another neurologist.  Finally, the scan was ordered for December 28th which revealed the following :  The MRI was with and without contrast – a multiplanar imaging of the brain before and following the intravenous administration of 6ml of gadolinium.  IMPRESSION: No significant change since 6/01/2007. No acute intracranial abnormality visualized. Redemonstration of severe, diffuse cerebellar and vermian atrophy.

In other words, severe atrophy of Anissa’s cerebellum and vermis is most likely the cause of her unsteadiness of balance and need for assisted help in walking.  The neurologist prescribed an increase of the anti-seizure drug, Banzel (rufinamide), to 1200mg daily. The total number of various seizures that she experienced during that year was 1,113.  Absence seizures were not taken into account, but the Jackknife-Tonic-Psychomotor-Myoclonic totaled 1427  – which are the most violent with an increase in velocity, lasting 9 to 12 minutes duration.  

After being on the increase of Banzel for six months, uncontrollable seizures, one to two minutes apart, plus a grand mal erupted on June 30, 2017.  For the first time of Anissa’s life, she had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital where she was given an injection of Ativan. Upon discovering a dangerously low sodium level, due to the increase of Banzel, she received only saline solution with meds for several days, which also included 500mg Keppra (levetiracetam).  Anissa remained in a semi-coma state for several days but on the fourth day she came alive and was able to take pureed food by mouth.  She returned home on July 3rd and three days later, celebrated her 50th birthday – a Jubilee.  God’s timing is always perfect!  What a blessing it was to have my grandson come early for the Daytona 400 races.  He was a great help when the ambulance came for Anissa, as well as running errands while I stayed at the hospital.  Praise be to the faithfulness of our Lord and 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

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Ten years ago, while Anissa was going through a difficult time of severe seizure activity, the following revelation was given concerning my “focus”:

AS YOU GAZE UPON THIS MAGNIFICIENT

PINK ROSE, DO YOU SEE THE THORNS OR

THE BEAUTY OF THE PETALS?

People who know about the growth of a rose can look

at the thorns and tell the condition of the weather while the rose was springing forth ~ whether it was a dry or wet season.

The same principle can hold true as one meditates upon the seasons of an individual’s life.

ODE TO ANISSA G. LAWYER

(Inspiration given to Anissa’s mother)

June 15, 2008

Like the rose, my Anissa, seems the story of your life,

Though plagued forty-plus years with thorns of strife.

As fragile as rose petals ~ pink and soft to the touch;

 Then seizures erupted; alas, no medical cure for such.

But the day comes forth when a trumpet shall sound

Of God’s voice from Heaven causing you to abound!

‘Rise up, my fair one…come,’ and with the birds sing,

Ever filling the earth with praises, gloriously to ring.

Free at last to run ~ as you recall those past scenes,

Of walking on beaches, and in lush valleys so green.

Never again shall limits to love’s fragrance be closed

You’re out of the wilderness, able to bloom as a rose.

The Word of God reveals how Jesus kept a positive focus and how we are to look to Him as our example in struggling times:  “… and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterwards, and now He sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.  If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about His patience as sinful men did such terrible things to Him. After all, you have never yet struggled against sin and temptation until you sweat great drops of blood.”  Hebrews 12:1-3 TLB

Upon reviewing the previous Blog Posts in sharing the story of Anissa’s life, I stand amazed as to how many times a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet my faith.  The many seizures continued to be “a thorn in the flesh,” yet my strength was made perfect in weakness – similar to what the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.  We are overcomers – only because of His Excellent Grace!

(On the next Blog Post of Anissa’s story, it is my hope to have several videos of her for others to better understand what kind of seizures she has experienced.)

Note:  Give Glory to God by sharing your testimony of His Excellent Grace on our Guest Post.  Submit your story to blawyerlogos@bellsouth.net or mail to Logos Life & Light Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1732, Ormond Beach, FL 32175.  Your story will be edited and returned to you for approval before Posting.   

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

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

What is Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)?  Through Anissa’s story, I have attempted to inform others how this syndrome can affect individuals, as well as their family and caregivers.  LGS is diagnosed when there is a mixed seizure pattern, especially if combined with a degree of developmental delay or intellectual impairment.  

Since there are so many different kinds of seizures and epilepsy, seeing is better than reading when it has to do with LGS.  But it is also very difficult to video tape some of the most dangerous kinds, or to even have a camera handy at all times. The video that I am posting of Anissa shows the more dangerous type which was taped in 2016 after a trial month of being on the medical marijuana (CBD).

Click below to watch the seizure

Anissa Seizure

Without any warning, she jackknifes (also called drop or atonic), then goes into a tonic phase causing her legs to go out straight.  The legs are stiff as a board and cannot be bent until the phase is completed. Her arms go into “fencing” motions and the torso twists uncontrollably in various directions, which have been diagnosed as psychomotor and myoclonic.  The total number of this kind of seizure that Anissa experienced during that year was 427, plus 640 of other less violent types. Absence seizures were not taken into account.

Anissa just celebrated her 51st birthday earlier this month.  Going through the post-menstrual cycle with hormonal changes is creating a new challenge.  There seems to be more erratic types of seizures, so we take each day as it comes. Jesus told His disciples to not be anxious and worried about their lives . . .

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 6:26-27, 33-34 NKJV

I believe that we will succeed – but only by 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