HELP US FIND A CURE
Mum’s heartfelt plea to save Cole, 6, from crippling epileptic seizures
The heartbreaking image below of East Kilbride boy Cole Thomson undergoing brain surgery touched the hearts of the nation this week.
Nearly 8000 people have signed a petition launched by East Kilbride Community Trust to help save the severely ill sixyear-old as his mum continues her fight for medical cannabis treatment. Now, exactly four years on from Cole’s first major brain surgery, his desperate mum Lisa Quarrell is begging First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to help her find a cure for Cole’s crippling epileptic seizures which leave him paralysed and unable to speak. The Newlandsmuir mum-of-two said: “Cole is deteriorating before my eyes. I am at breaking point now – this is complete desperation. “Cole should be given the same chance as other children who have tried it. “People are playing God – there’s no rhyme or reason to it. How ill does Cole need to get before they will help him?”
East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani has written to NHS Lothian asking the health board to prescribe Cole with medical cannabis to treat his uncontrolled drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
Ms Fabiani said this week: “Of course, we’ll do everything possible to try to help Lisa and Cole in this heartbreaking situation.”
Nearly 8000 people have signed a petition to help save a severely ill East Kilbride boy as his desperate mum battles for medical cannabis treatment.
East Kilbride Community Trust is asking the Scottish Government to grant six-yearold Cole Thomson access to prescription cannabis-based medicine to save his life.
Newlandsmuir mum-oftwo Lisa Quarrell is racing against the clock to find a cure for Cole’s crippling epileptic seizures which leave him paralysed and unable to speak.
And despite new regulations coming into force on November 1 which allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis, Cole has been refused treatment because he suffers from the wrong type of epilepsy.
Now, exactly four years on from Cole’s first major brain surgery, Lisa is begging First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to grant her son the same treatment being given to other epileptic children to avoid having to undergo a second invasive procedure.
Speaking to the News on Monday Lisa, 37, said: “Cole is deteriorating before my eyes. He is completely paralysed every morning and struggles to walk into school without being aided.
“I am at breaking point now – this is complete desperation.
“I’ve written to the First Minister pleading with her to help me get access to cannabisbased medicine.
“I just want to try it. But I’m being told the drug, epidiolex, is not available to Cole. This really upsets me because Cole should be given the same chance as other children who have tried it.
“People are playing God – there’s no rhyme or reason to it. How ill does Cole need to get before they will help him?”
East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani has written to NHS Lothian asking the health board to prescribe Cole with medical cannabis to treat his uncontrolled drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
In the letter, the SNP MSP explains how Cole’s health has deteriorated considerably in recent months and the youngster is experiencing up to 10 seizures a day which leave him with stroke-like symptoms.
She also voices her concern over the impact so many seizures are having on Cole’s health.
This week, Ms Fabiani pledged her support to the family, and said: “Of course, we’ll do everything possible to try to help Lisa and Cole in this heartbreaking situation.”
Ex-cop Lisa is taking her plight to the Netherlands next month where she will legally try to source the drug in Amsterdam and get the answers she is looking for.
If that fails, she plans to take her battle to the United States.
“I need to keep pushing with this petition to the Scottish Government and collect as many signatures as possible,” she said.
“If I don’t get an answer by mid-December, I’m heading to Amsterdam then America after Christmas to try to get the answers I need.
“This is sheer desperation now. It’s four years to the day since Cole went through brain surgery. I thought that was going to fix him and now here were are in this position.
“It’s heartbreaking. My little boy has been through enough.”
Lisa hopes to raise £5000 to fight for a change in drug policies and procedures and help families in similar situations. Support the cause by making a donation at https://www.gofundme. com/6ed1p28?member =1110584
And sign Cole’s petition at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/ petitions/save-cole-thomson