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16 caregiver focus cannabis patient care | vol. 2 no. 2 cannapatientcare.com out publicly and said he changed my mind about medical can- nabis," said Matt. After their interview aired, word was out that the Figi's were on to something groundbreaking with CBD. By the time they did that interview, Matt and Paige were committed to CBD and knew that it was the right treatment for Charlotte–nothing was going to change their path. "The interview didn't change us, but I think it changed the world," said Matt. "It provid- ed that global awakening—that catalyst—for people to final- ly open their eyes and start trusting the beneficial medicinal properties of a plant." The impact of that interview was far reaching though. Matt re- called a time after Weed 1 aired when he was in the airport re- turning home from Afghanistan and people recognized him from the show and stopped to thank him for speaking out. "I honest- ly don't feel that it was ever a choice. It was just something that I would hope any parent would do for their child if presented with the same circumstance," he said. "It wasn't a choice. It was just the next logical course of action I had to pursue. And thank goodness, both Paige and I agreed on this decision." Charlotte's success with CBD led other families to contact them as well. "We had families upon families knocking down our door saying 'Hey, I heard you had success with CBD. Tell me about it,'" said Matt. "These people were given the en- dearing name of 'medical refugees' because they were leaving their home states and coming to Colorado for access to med- ical cannabis and getting two doctors to sign off so that their kids could have it as well. Hundreds upon hundreds of fami- lies were having the same efficacious success." Matt shared that Charlotte's medical team was neither for nor against the use of CBD. He said it felt like they were kind of turning a blind eye to it, even despite Charlotte's astound- ing results. He believes there is still a lack of acceptance specifically from the medical scientific world. "I think this should be one of the first courses of action a neurologist or epileptologist should offer. It's harmless, it's efficacious, it's natural, it's organic," said Matt. "I literally stand before you today and I cannot think of one bad side effect with CBD." Matt expressed how thank ful he is that nowadays more research and clincal trials are being conduc ted on a regular basis to study CBD more closely. "And you know what else? All those hundreds of parents that were treating their children in the same manner, you know what they noticed? They noticed that their kid's immune systems got stronger and therefore they went to the hospital a heck of a lot less," said Matt. "CBD aids your digestive tract and it boosts your immune system. These kids were staying out of the hospital for the first time ever. And that's this won- derful, overwhelming side effect that our family—and hun- dreds of other families—noticed." The Realm of Caring As pioneers into CBD treatment for children, the Figi's self- taught knowledge continued to grow. Matt explained that their dosing protocol for Charlotte came with a lot of care, time, and thought from everyone involved—from friends and other med- Extended Family and Caregivers M AT T AND PAIGE divorced under amicable terms about six years ago and remain great friends. This change in the family dynamic also expanded their family tree. Paige remarried Greg Iafeliece. Matt is domestic partners with Aspen Johnston. "Aspen and Greg are both great people who love our children endlessly," said Matt. "I am so hap- py that Charlotte was surrounded by so much love from everyone in her life." Indeed, the tributes that came pouring in for Char- lotte went far beyond her family and friends. Anyone that knew her, loved her; and those that only knew of her, were in awe. Charlotte with her Dad Matt. Photo courtesy of Candy Jackson.