Boy, two, with brain cancer is 'cured' after secretly being fed medical marijuana by his father
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:16 PM on 4th May 2011
A desperate father whose son was suffering from a life-threatening brain tumour has revealed he gave him cannabis oil to ease his pain. And he has now apparently made a full recovery.
Cash Hyde, known as Cashy, was a perfectly healthy baby when he was born in June 2008 but became sick shortly before his second birthday.
At first he was misdiagnosed with glandular fever before his parents Mike and Kalli, from Missoula in Montana, were given the devastating news he had a serious brain tumour.
The little boy had to have arduous chemotherapy treatment to reduce the growth, which had drastic side effects including seizures and a blood infection.
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Mike Hyde with his son Cash who was diagnosed with a severe brain tumour
Mike Hyde with his son Cash who was diagnosed with a severe brain tumour
Cash had to have high-dose chemotherapy which made him very ill
Cash had to have high-dose chemotherapy which made him very ill
His distraught parents were repeatedly told he was likely to succumb to the illness because the condition was so bad.
After one bout of high-dose chemotherapy, Cash was so weak he could not lift his head and was too sick to eat any solid food for 40 days.
It was at this point that Mr Hyde decided to take action and go down the route of medical marijuana to try to help his young son.
Cash's doctors refused to even discuss the option but his father went and sought authorisation elsewhere and then secretly administered it through his son's feeding tube.
He also told doctors to stop giving Cash the cocktail of anti-nausea drugs he had been taking - although he never told them what he was doing.
Mr Hyde told KXLY News that his son started looking better right away.
Cash's father secretly gave him medical marijuana through a feeding tube
Cash's father secretly gave him medical marijuana through a feeding tube
The youngster with his older brother Colty as he is treated in hospital
The youngster with his older brother Colty as he is treated in hospital
Mr Hyde said: 'He hadn't eaten a thing in 40 days - and, it was really incredible to watch him take a bite of a piece of cheese. It shows that he wants to live'.
He credits the cannabis oil with helping his son get through the chemo, and say Cash has now been declared cancer free by doctors.
The boy is now back and home and living the life of a typical young boy, playing with his elder brother Colty.
Medical marijuana is legal in some states, including Montana, but its use for children is poorly understood and quite rate.
The US federal government does not recognise the legality of using the drug for medical reasons and frequently clashes with states over the issue.
Mr Hyde told KXLY: 'It's very controversial, it's very scary. But, there's nothing more scary than losing your child.'
Cash is now at home and able to live like a normal little boy
Cash is now at home and able to live like a normal little boy
Boy, two, with brain cancer is 'cured' after secretly being fed medical marijuana by his father
Boy, two, with brain cancer is 'cure... 
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