Parents of 8-Year-Old Cancer Patient Hopeful Medical Marijuana Passes
By: Jonathan Athens, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 1, 2012
Haley Gloria is an 8-year-old Hot Springs girl who fights brain cancer every day.
Her mom, dad, and stuffed animals Sparkles and Sally are beside her every step of the way.
The tumor doctors removed from the base of her brain was the size of a tennis ball, and after 16 hours of surgery, is now the size of a golf ball.
But now she has another fight on her hands: eating. The weekly chemotherapy treatments have zapped her appetite. She's about 4 feet tall but only weighs 41pounds.
Haley takes synthetic THC, the component in marijuana that relieves pain and gives users an appetite. It's manufactured in a lab legally, but her mom and dad say it's not doing enough.
"We have a very unique perspective in that for appetite and pain management for a cancer patient, it may not get better than this," says John Gloria, Haley's dad.
Jason and Lisa Gloria are concerned if Arkansas voters shoot down a medical marijuana proposal, they might never be able to get the natural form of THC, which is more potent, and something they feel Haley needs.
"We feel like this is a decision that we have the right, as parents, to sit in our doctor's office and have a conversation to make those kind of choices, not sit in a politician's office to make these kinds of choices," Haley's mom says.
Jerry Cox of the Family Council is against medical marijuana, but not in this case.
"We have no problem with that," Cox says. "What we have a problem with is this wide open measure that would allow anybody that lives five miles from a dispensary to grow their own."
So while the fight over medical marijuana may be decided at the ballot box, Haley Gloria is waging her own battle.
Her biggest allies are mom and dad, but Sparkles and Sally are by her side too.
Haley has four chemo treatments left to go. After reviewing petitions, the Secretary of State's office certified the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act has enough signatures to be on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot.
Her mom, dad, and stuffed animals Sparkles and Sally are beside her every step of the way.
The tumor doctors removed from the base of her brain was the size of a tennis ball, and after 16 hours of surgery, is now the size of a golf ball.
But now she has another fight on her hands: eating. The weekly chemotherapy treatments have zapped her appetite. She's about 4 feet tall but only weighs 41pounds.
Haley takes synthetic THC, the component in marijuana that relieves pain and gives users an appetite. It's manufactured in a lab legally, but her mom and dad say it's not doing enough.
"We have a very unique perspective in that for appetite and pain management for a cancer patient, it may not get better than this," says John Gloria, Haley's dad.
Jason and Lisa Gloria are concerned if Arkansas voters shoot down a medical marijuana proposal, they might never be able to get the natural form of THC, which is more potent, and something they feel Haley needs.
"We feel like this is a decision that we have the right, as parents, to sit in our doctor's office and have a conversation to make those kind of choices, not sit in a politician's office to make these kinds of choices," Haley's mom says.
Jerry Cox of the Family Council is against medical marijuana, but not in this case.
"We have no problem with that," Cox says. "What we have a problem with is this wide open measure that would allow anybody that lives five miles from a dispensary to grow their own."
So while the fight over medical marijuana may be decided at the ballot box, Haley Gloria is waging her own battle.
Her biggest allies are mom and dad, but Sparkles and Sally are by her side too.
Haley has four chemo treatments left to go. After reviewing petitions, the Secretary of State's office certified the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act has enough signatures to be on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot.
Comments
Almost four years ago Michigan legalized medical marijuana and for the past 2 and 1/2 Years the Michigan Cannabis Cancer Project has been freely providing Cannabis oil to state licensed medical marijuana patients that have been diagnosed with cancer and have chosen to use cannabis oil instead of chemo radiation. As a result of providing cannabis oil made as instructed by Rick Simpson and following his recommended dosage of a gram a day until the cancer is in remission. I have been witnessed to over 15 cases of various cancers being eliminated with only using cannabis oil. I have had the honor of talking to Rick Simpson on several occasions and I believe the world owes Mr Simpson a debt of Gratitude for freely sharing and instructing the world on how to make this oil. At least a couple of Parents I know personaly are deeply grateful to Rick Simpson for sharing this knowlegd one such case is the parents of a 16 yr old diagnosed a year ago in July with terminal brain cancer the spider web type the parents were told that she that she would have about 18 months to live and that chemo radiation could buy her a few more months. After some research and careful consideration amongst the family members they decided to use cannabis oil as instructed by Rick Simpson and only cannabis oil not chemo radiation. Well its been a year now and she has been consuming a gram or more a day for year. The last test results in February showed that we stopped the growth and she has been living life as normal teenager with out loosing her hair and getting sick oh she also passed her drivers training with flying colors along with her DMV road test while consuming a daily dose of cannabis oil. We are anticipating her test results this August. This is just one of the cases that we provided for and have test results that prove that cannabis oil cures cancer eliminates cancer or kills cancer.
The Cannabis Cancer Project is committed in discovering and sharing the truth about this oil that is why we go to great lengths to providing this oil free to cancer patients that have chosen and are committed to this form of treatment.
But none of this could be possible it were not for people that care and donate to this cause. Just Like Mr Rick Simpson who started it all.
If you would like to donate in to this cause you can buy Ricks newly released book or email the cannabis Cancer Project
Check out Rick Simpsons newly realeased book Phoenix Tears the Rick Simpson Story you can get a copy at
http://phoenixtears.ca/buy-phoenixtears-the-rick-simpson-story/
Michigan Cannabis Cancer Project
cannabiscancerproject@gmail.com
Michigan P.
August 30, 2012 at 10:39 am
Jerry Cox AGAIN shows his ignorance! The CCA does NOT allow ANYONE who lives more than 5 miles from a dispensary to grow marijuana. It allows patients or caregivers who live more than 1.5 miles from a dispensary to grow medical marijuana. Read the thing before engaging your Bible thumping mouth. Jerry says he's not against medical marijuana "in this case". I'll bet if Jerry or his child were suffering he wouldn't object "in that case" either. A New York Supreme Court Justice who has sent people to prison for pot possession recently got cancer himself, has used marijuana to allieviate HIS symptoms and has come around now as a true believer. It's not medicine until THEY need it!
Mike T.
August 29, 2012 at 1:33 pm
It is not a politicians office that influences that decision it is the pastors office that does. Religion is the main stopping force for things like this. Just like dry counties and casinos.
William S.
August 29, 2012 at 10:24 am
Lisa L.
August 29, 2012 at 12:09 am
