10-year-old Alexis Bortell spoke in Tyler on Saturday to share her story. She has intractable epilepsy and no treatments worked to decrease her seizures, until she tried medical cannabis.

“We started like any other family, especially a Texas family,” says father Dean Bortell. “In 2013 my daughter was totally healthy on July 7th. We were living on the lake, the American dream, life was perfect. Then that night she had her first seizure, and everything went into chaos.”

Alexis was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy. She tried every pharmaceutical treatment option, but nothing stopped her seizures.

Her pediatrician suggested going to Colorado and trying medical cannabis.

“Her doctor said that’s it,” says Dean. “Her life is in danger, you have to go, or potentially brain surgery, that was really where we were down to.”

He says medical cannabis with THC has saved her life.

“I have a huge decrease of seizures and today I’m 422 days seizure-free,” says Alexis.

The family refers to Alexis as a medical refugee, unable to return to Texas, because of the standing medical cannabis legislation.

They’re on a mission to change it, with the support of state representative David Simpson.

“The government shouldn’t be between a family and a loved one caring for their health, or between a doctor and a patient,” says Simpson.

“In Texas we have a CBD law too, but without that THC compound, it just didn’t work,” says Dean. “Until we get that second part of the equation, we can’t come home.”

The Bortells spoke in Tyler on Saturday, and plan to continue sharing their story in hopes of bringing about change.

“I’ll make speeches and talk to representatives and just fight for what us patients need,” says Alexis.