Girl Who Inspired Parents To Advocate For Medical Cannabis Dies
MONTEVIDEO, Minn. Katelyn Faith Pauling Dies From Fatal Neurological Disease A Montevideo girl whose struggles with an inherited disease led her parents to advocate for the legalization of medical cannabis in Minnesota has died at age 8.
Katelyn Faith Pauling, daughter of Kristy and Jeremy Pauling, died Friday at her home surrounded by her family.
Katelyn Pauling was diagnosed with Batten disease, a fatal neurological disease. Among its symptoms are severe seizures.
Kristy and Jeremy Pauling brought their daughter to St. Paul as they testified during the last legislative session in favor of legalizing medical cannabis in Minnesota. Afterward, Jeremy Pauling was among those who submitted a proposal to develop a cannabis production facility.
Jeremy Pauling also is a parent member on the governor’s Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research.
The Paulings did not obtain medical cannabis for their daughter, but believed it would have helped alleviate her seizures. Jeremy Pauling said in a previous interview that the family had considered moving to a state where medical cannabis was legal, but decided against it. They did not want to remove their young daughter from the support system of family and friends in the Montevideo area.
Along with her parents, Katelyn is survived by her sisters, Kaylee and Kassey.
