Mary Anne Meskis

It is not uncommon in a rare disease like Dravet syndrome (DS) to have a physician prescribe a medication for “off-label” use by their patient. This means that the drug is not being used in the manner specified in the FDA’s approved package labeling and is being used for a disease that it is not […]

The International Classification of Disease (ICD) is a list first introduced in 1948 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is coordinated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a system used by healthcare providers to classify and code diagnoses, symptoms, and

Nominations are now open for the 2020 Ciara’s Spirit of Hope Award! I hope you will consider nominating an individual whose dedication through their volunteerism to DSF has been outstanding and inspiring to you.  From 2010-2015 the Spirit of Hope award was presented to volunteers at DSF’s annual gala, Ciara’s Butterfly Bash, which was named

This week’s guest blog post comes from Katie Holcomb. Katie is the Manager of PTSD and Coping Initiatives for Ryan’s Case for Smiles, a non-profit dedicated to helping children and their families cope with life changing illnesses and injuries today, while building resilience for the future. In short, to feel better to heal better. She

Your personal experience is an important resource that offers valuable insight into the patient journey and the needs of the Dravet syndrome (DS) community. While each of us has a compelling story to tell, the decision to share your story is a very personal one. There are two important but very different ways that you

Many of our families over the years have expressed an interest in wanting to host a larger event to help raise awareness of Dravet syndrome and benefit DSF, but are unsure where to start. A larger event, especially if you are new to fundraising, can be daunting and a lot of work on your own.

I think that anyone who has a child with a rare disease has been met with a well-meaning, “I don’t know how you do it.” My response is typically that I do it because I love my son, so I don’t have a choice but to attempt to make his life the best it can

You can anticipate that you will have some worries when you become a parent. You are fully responsible for this new little person and for keeping them safe. When they are home there are dozens of safety measures you can implement – smoke detectors, fencing, safety gates, etc. As they grow and develop, you will

As a parent of a 19 year old son with Dravet syndrome, I recognize that the idea of giving up your time to participate in any type of research may sound overwhelming or next to impossible. Your days are already packed from morning to night with the constant care of your child, including therapies, medical