This June, we are proud to take part in the Purple Drives Progress campaign for Dravet Syndrome Awareness Month. Every Friday throughout the month, we will be wearing purple and helping raise awareness for Dravet Syndrome in loving memory of our beautiful daughter, Leah Rose Dressler.

On June 13th, we will also be wearing purple at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, NJ, as we participate in the Walk for Epilepsy to honor Leah, remember all those who have died from Dravet Syndrome and epilepsy- or seizure-related complications and support programs for families affected by epilepsy.

Leah passed away on September 2, 2022, her second birthday, after experiencing complications from a prolonged status seizure that was triggered by a high fever from Rhinovirus. Following her death, we received confirmation of her genetic diagnosis of Dravet syndrome. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to raising awareness.

Dravet syndrome is a rare intractable epileptic encephalopathy that begins in infancy, with an incidence rate of 1 in 15,700. Majority of patients carry an SCN1A gene mutation. It is characterized by prolonged hard to treat seizures as well as various developmental delays and problems with gait, sleep and feeding. Patients with Dravet syndrome face a 15 to 20% mortality rate due to SUDEP ( Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), prolonged seizures and other seizure-related accidents such as drowning/infections. 

Leah was truly the sweetest, most adorable little girl. She loved to give hugs, even to strangers she would meet on the playground. She was full of love and light and we hope to spread just that in her memory.