Mother of seriously ill boy pleads with Health Minister to legalise cannabis oil

The mother of a seriously ill County Tyrone boy is urging the Health Minister to legalise medicinal cannabis.

Billy Caldwell is in the US awaiting treatment to help his life threatening epilepsy.

He used to suffer around 7 seizures a week - however since trialling CBD oil he hasn't had a fit in 12 days.

The 11-year-old's mum fears being prosecuted if she brings him home to Northern Ireland and is pleading with Minister Michelle O Neill to change the law.

Charlotte Caldwell told Q radio news "Not only has the cannabis oil significantly reduced his seizures, his wee personality is starting to come out.

"It's remarkable medication and I think it is time our Health Service made it available to the people who will medically benefit from it" she added.

Billy from Castlederg is in LA with his mum waiting to get surgery.

The pair have been campaigning to raise the funds for treatment they hope will save his life.

They have £94,000 in the pot already and are hopeful they will secure the rest of the money for the tests.

Billy's intractable and status epilepsy cannot be controlled by lifestyle or medication and it's emerged his brain surgery is due to be more invasive than expected.

It is likely to impact his speech and memory loss.

Charlotte said: "While we are waiting on a date for surgery, Doctor Nordli proposed Billy used medicinal cannabis to keep his symptoms at bay."

Following the surgery, the little boy will have to manage his condition with CBD oil for two years.

Charlotte Caldwell describes him as a 'marijuana refugee' as she won't be able to bring him home since the product is illegal in Northern Ireland.

"The prospect of returning home is essentially nil, so that is a huge difficulty we will have to overcome".

Last week Billy wrote a letter to Santa and to Northern Ireland's Health Minister asking for help.

In it he said: "I don't want to go and live with the angels yet, I want to stay here with my mum and big bro".

Charlotte describes the changes in Billy over the last fortnight as a miracle but says the thought that she would be committing a crime by treating her son with CBD oil in Northern Ireland is unthinkable.

The Dáil (Irish Government) has passed a bill to make cannabis available in Ireland for medicinal use.

The Irish Government had said it would not oppose the legislation.

You can donate to Billy's JustGiving page here.