The Vonckens risk a judicial punishment for having and administering
cannabis oil to their very sick daughter. 'We risk seven years imprisonment,'
Jean-Pierre acknowledges. But as severe as such a punishment may be
he seems not to be especially bothered. On the contrary, the man does not
hesitate to tell his family story to the media.
enough for 70 days of treatment.
relentless restlessness that left her exhausted. Following
time for the family.. From September 2014 until May
the cannabis oil treatments, she has much more energy
2015, when the cannabis oil treatment started along with
and the focus to continue her positive developmental
a drastic reduction in most of her regular medications,
progress. And last, but not least, since the beginning
were 'very heavy' for Sofie's parents and the child herself.
of the cannabis oil treatment she needed no more
'It seemed like we were on a non-stop hospital admissions
traumatising hospitalisations. These positive changes
routine,' says Jean-Pierre. 'During this time Sofie floated
in Sofie's health status are not an illusion – numerous
more than once between life and death,' he adds. But
other family members and acquaintances echo what her
then came the day of the first drop of cannabis oil, May
parents are saying.
27, 2015. 'From the first drop, the effect was spectacular.
Noticeably, her doctors and those involved with her
We are very confident that it is the cannabis oil that is
former conventional treatment are deadly silent on the
the cause of our daughter's health improvement. We are
subject of her near-miraculous recovery using a substance
now seeing a playful child, a child that wants to discover
that many doctors are either wary of or outright afraid of
the world and spontaneously takes books. All of this was
because it remains illegal in their country – or they simply
new to us.'
don't know about its positive effects on this and a variety
Tremendous progress
During the four months Sofie used cannabis oil prior to
•
DIGIMAG
of other intractable conditions, or perhaps because they
just don't want to know about such effects.
my interview with her parents she had made tremendous
Punishment
progress. She stopped almost all of her conventional but
Nevertheless the Vonckens risk judicial punishment for
non-working medications. Only a benzodiazepine, which
administering cannabis oil to their very sick daughter. 'We
must be phased out very gradually, was still part of her
risk seven years imprisonment,' Jean-Pierre acknowledges.
medical regime because an immediate stop can initiate
But as severe as such a punishment may be he seems
unwanted side-effects caused by withdrawal from the
not to be especially bothered. On the contrary, while his
drug which she had been taking three times a day. At
behaviour may be technically unlawful and could provoke
the time of writing she was nearly completely off this
possible imprisonment, the man does not hesitate to tell
medication too, taking a much-reduced dose once a day
his family story to the media.
and was due to come off it altogether. In addition, a little
'We do this openly. First of all, we want to help our
girl who had almost stood still for four years in terms of
daughter Sofie, but we want also to reach other parents
cognitive and motor development now not only plays,
of children with epilepsy and inform them about the
moves and discovers things, but she is even going to
possibility of using cannabis oil. But I also always try
school as well. This is only possible because, although
to persuade them to do this under the supervision of a
she still has little epileptic seizures once in a while, they
doctor.'
are very few and she is sometimes spared of them for
ODYSSEY 28
hours were filled with severe epileptic seizures and
The period that preceded this event was an intense
days and even weeks. Moreover, her nights are now
Medical proof
finally revitalising – as opposed to the previous period
In July 2015, six weeks after starting the cannabis oil,
under conventional treatment during which her nighttime
a new 24-hour EEC collected from Sofie showed clearly