By Tina M. DeSilvio

Special to the Times

As a parent with a 14-year-old daughter who has dealt with intractable seizures since the age of 2, watching her suffer for the past 12 years has been difficult, to say the least.

We have tried numerous types and combinations of anti-seizure medications, procedures and brain surgery. Sadly, none of those attempts have helped stop or control the seizures. The past few years grew more difficult for my daughter as she lost her appetite and was unable to keep food down. In less than nine months, my daughter lost more than 20 pounds. The medications she had been taking for most of her life were beginning to take their toll on her.

A struggle over quality of life versus quantity of life was becoming all the more apparent. Frustration and desperation brought me to realize it was time to start thinking outside of the box. Pharmaceutical medications were not working for — but against — my daughter.

It was around this time last year when I began researching medical marijuana as a form of treatment for seizures. I was pleasantly surprised to discover there were many seizure patients saying they found relief by using marijuana with compounds cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa).

Under New Jersey’s medical marijuana law, I set out to obtain the necessary Medical Marijuana Card for my daughter, never realizing I was opening Pandora’s Box with the process. For starters, my daughter and I had to travel four hours, round trip, to a doctor qualified for the program who, at the time, was the only one in the state willing to see pediatric patients.

Next, I searched for a psychiatrist to write a letter of recommendation, also per state requirements. This was not an easy task since my daughter had never sought psychiatric help prior to this time. Lastly, I collected a letter of recommendation from my daughter's pediatrician.

All told, this process took me more than six months of aggressive pursuit to finally obtain the Medical Marijuana Card for my daughter. I should also point out the money spent on doctors and application fees, fingerprinting and travel were well over $800.

With no edible product available in New Jersey, I decided to make a tincture with the medical marijuana. Once the tincture was complete, I contacted the state Department of Health to arrange testing on our finished product. After numerous unreturned phone calls, I finally spoke with an agent who informed me that New Jersey does not allow patients to have their finished products tested independently.

These tests play a major role when trying to determine the appropriate medical marijuana dose for a patient. The inability to obtain the tests readily is one of many major flaws in the state’s law that is being addressed by current proposals from some state lawmakers.

My daughter began medical marijuana treatments in January 2014. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Her seizures have decreased by more than 75 percent. She is more alert as well, achieving previously unreached goals at school and showing an increased appetite.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding medical marijuana — mostly due to ignorance — knowing what it has done for my daughter and many others nationwide, I will continue to stand tall and speak up about its many healing components.

After agreeing last year to highly restricted medical marijuana for young patients, Gov. Chris Christie has made it clear he will not expand any further on the New Jersey medical marijuana program, claiming that advocates ultimately want only legalization for all purposes. Although I am not opposed to legalization beyond medical use, my only agenda is the medical aspect in order to continue treating my daughter.

For that very reason, I will continue advocating for my daughter and other patients in our state. In order to have a “Compassionate Care Act,” as New Jersey’s law is called, people should act as if they truly are compassionate.

Tina M. DeSilvio writes from Franklin Township.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at letters@southjerseymedia.com