HER BABY GIRL BEGAN HAVING SEIZURES AT JUST THREE MONTHS OLD — A MOTHER’S FIGHT WOULD LATER TOUCH FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD

When Paige Figi welcomed her twin daughters in October 2006, she imagined the ordinary milestones that lay ahead: first smiles, first steps and the sound of her children learning to speak.

But when one of her daughters, Charlotte, was just three months old, the family faced a frightening medical emergency.

Charlotte experienced her first seizure. It was the beginning of a childhood marked by a rare and severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome.

Over the following years, her parents watched their little girl endure repeated seizures, hospital visits and treatments that failed to provide lasting relief.

A Childhood Interrupted by Hundreds of Seizures

Charlotte’s condition became increasingly difficult to manage as she grew older.

At its worst, she reportedly experienced approximately 300 seizures a week. The frequency and severity of the episodes affected her ability to walk, speak and enjoy ordinary childhood activities.

Her parents, Paige and Matt Figi, searched for ways to improve their daughter’s quality of life.

For the family, even a quiet day without a medical emergency became something precious.

A Mother Searches for Another Possibility

After numerous conventional treatments had failed to adequately control Charlotte’s seizures, her family explored a cannabidiol-based treatment under Colorado’s medical cannabis framework.

CBD is a compound found in the cannabis plant that does not produce the intoxicating effects associated with THC.

Charlotte’s parents reported a dramatic reduction in her seizures following the treatment.

Her experience was subsequently documented by CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, in 2013.

The family’s story reached an international audience and helped draw attention to the need for further scientific research into difficult-to-treat childhood epilepsy.

The Little Girl Behind Charlotte’s Web

A specially cultivated cannabis strain associated with Charlotte’s treatment became known as Charlotte’s Web.

As her story spread, families raising children with severe seizure disorders began following her journey.

Charlotte’s case contributed to wider public discussions about medical research, access to treatment and the challenges facing families living with rare neurological conditions.

Her individual experience was not proof that the same treatment would work for every child. However, it became part of a broader conversation that encouraged further clinical investigation.

More Than a Medical Story

For her family, Charlotte was never simply a symbol of a medical movement.

She was a daughter and sister who loved spending time outdoors, smiling and riding a tandem bicycle with her mother.

As her health improved during parts of her childhood, her family was able to share experiences that had once seemed uncertain.

Those ordinary moments became some of their most treasured memories.

A Short Life That Left a Lasting Impact

In April 2020, Charlotte became seriously ill after members of her household experienced a respiratory illness. Her family said she tested negative for COVID-19.

She died on April 7, 2020, at the age of 13, following severe medical complications that included a seizure.

Her death brought an outpouring of tributes from families, medical advocates and people who had followed her journey.

Charlotte’s life had been marked by extraordinary medical challenges, but her legacy extended far beyond her diagnosis.

Through her parents’ determination to seek help and share their experiences, the little girl from Colorado became known to families around the world.

Behind that international story was something deeply personal: a mother who wanted her daughter to have more time to simply be a child.

Sources: CNN, April 9, 2020; CNN, April 8, 2020; CBS News, April 2020.