Preston Blake DRIGGERS

2004 - 2012  (8 years)

• Name	Preston Blake DRIGGERS  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Birth	2004	Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Gender	Male
  HIST	How are Richard and Gerry Bradham his grandparents? jkh Preston Blake Driggers Preston Blake Driggers, 8, died Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of Walter C. “Walt” and Virginia “Gingi” Strange Driggers. Blake was a rising third grader at Alice Drive Elementary School and was a member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church. Survivors include his parents of Sumter; two sisters, Heather Dooley and MaryBeth Dooley, both of the home; paternal grandparents, Charles and Helen Driggers and Richard and Gerry Bradham; aunts and uncles, Chuck Driggers (Jackie), David Driggers, Charlie Driggers (Michelle), Mary Anne Brown (Mike), Beth White (Scooter) and David Strange; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Oscar and Decky Strange; and an uncle, Buddy Strange. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Holley and the Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. today in the ballroom at Quality Inn, 2390 Broad St., Sumter, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Posted in Obituaries on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Sumter boy, 8, dies after contact with rare amoeba By Rhonda Barrick RhondaB@theitem.com Blake Driggers, son of Walt and Gingi Driggers of Sumter, died Tuesday at Palmetto Children’s Hospital. According to family friend Chris Moore, who is updating the Facebook page "Prayers for Blake Driggers," 8-year-old Blake died Tuesday of Naegleria fowler, a deadly amoeba. According to Moore, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta has confirmed that lab results show the young man died after contact with the amoeba while swimming in a lake. According to the CDC website, "Naegleria fowleri infects people by entering the body through the nose. This typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater places like lakes and rivers. Once the ameba enters the brain, it causes a usually fatal infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)." For updated information on the family and services for Blake, visit "Prayers for Blake Driggers" on Facebook. A memorial fund has been set up in Blake’s memory. To donate to the Blake Driggers Memorial Fund, contact any SAFE Federal Credit Union branch in Sumter; donate via Paypal.com at rememberblakedriggers@gmail.com; or drop off or mail donations to Blake’s church, Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Posted in Local news, News on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Officials: Fatal amoeba infection extremely rare Officials: Fatal amoeba infection extremely rare The Facebook page created Monday to provide informationand support for the Driggers family, “Prayers for Blake Driggers,”is seen. The page had more than 2,000 “likes” Thursday afternoon,with posters sharing condolences and prayers for the family.Blake Driggers died Tuesday after contact with a rare amoeba afterswimming with his family in Lake Marion on July 7. View all 3 images in gallery. BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Blake Driggers will be remembered fondly by those who had the chance to know him in his short life. "You couldn't meet a sweeter child," said Beth White, Blake's aunt. "He never had a frown on his face. He was always eager to help people. You just can't say 'sweet' enough." The 8-year-old Sumter boy died Tuesday after contracting a rare infection caused by an amoeba entering his brain tissue. Doctors think the child contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, after the family went swimming in Lake Marion near Santee on July 7. Blake became ill this past weekend and was rushed Sunday to Tuomey Regional Medical Center with a high fever and was then rushed to Palmetto Children's Hospital with a suspected case of meningitis. It was only after Blake's death that an autopsy was performed and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta confirmed he died from a condition that strikes only a handful of people a year. PAM results from contact with a single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri, which is commonly found in freshwater bodies such as rivers, lakes and springs; only in rare cases can it lead to deadly infections in humans. "Very specific circumstances have to take place for this to result in infection," said Jim Beasley with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. "Water has to shoot up the nose with enough forcible pressure to be introduced to the brain." Cases of PAM can result from jumping or diving into freshwater, although not in saltwater where the amoeba can't survive. Symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, high fever and neck stiffness can be signs of infection if experienced after swimming and should be treated immediately. "People should avoid swimming or jumping into bodies of freshwater when the water is warm and the water levels are low," said Dr. Kathleen Antonetti, a DHEC medical epidemiologist, in a press release sent out after Blake's death. "You cannot be infected by merely drinking water containing the amoeba." The CDC has confirmed only 32 deaths from PAM in the United States between 2001 and 2010, a rate of about three per year. "We are saddened to learn that this child was exposed to the deadly organism Naegleria fowleri," said DHEC Director Catherine Templeton. "While this organism is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams in the South, infection in humans is extremely rare." While a Naegleria infection is almost always fatal within a few days of being contracted, DHEC officials say swimmers should not be overly concerned about the health effects of such a rare condition. "It's important to remember that (this organism) occurs naturally," Beasley said. "It's there all the time, but it's only in very special circumstances that it can affect you, which is why it is so rare." Beasley said steps as simple as holding your nose when diving or swimming with a nose clip can prevent exposure. But the rarity of the condition doesn't change the fact that a family has lost its son. Blake's sisters, ages 11 and 17, were undergoing a round of antibiotic treatment as a precaution Thursday at Palmetto Children's Hospital, just in case they attracted a similar infection while swimming. PAM cannot be spread from person to person. "We're all still shocked. It's unbelievable," White said. Members of the Driggers' church, Northside Memorial Baptist in Sumter, have been collecting donations on the family's behalf at its 1004 N. Main St. location, and the community is coming out to support them. "The outpouring of love and comfort is something I've never witnessed," White said. "The nurses at the hospital e-mailed the family and said they'd never experienced anything like it." HOW YOU CAN HELP The family of Blake Driggers requests people keep them in their prayers. A Blake Driggers Memorial Fund has been set up at SAFE Federal Credit Union, and donations can be left at any of SAFE's Sumter locations. Donations can also be sent via PayPal at rememberblakedriggers@gmail.com. A "Prayers for Blake Driggers" page has also been set up on Facebook to provide information from the family and to allow visitors to leave their condolences. Visitation for Driggers will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home, and services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church. WHERE IT'S FOUND Naegleria fowleri is found around the world. In the United States, the majority of infections have been caused by exposure in freshwater located in southern states. The amoeba can be found in: - Bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers - Geothermal (naturally hot) water, such as hot springs - Warm water discharge from industrial plants - Geothermal (naturally hot) drinking water sources - Soil - Swimming pools that are poorly maintained, with either low levels of chlorine or are unchlorinated - Water heaters with temperatures less than 116 degrees. Naegleria fowleri is not found in salt water, like the ocean. For more information about Naegleria fowleri, visithttp://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Source: State Department of Health and Environmental Control NAEGLERIA FOWLERI - Not all swimmers are at risk of infection. Infected waters, primarily fresh water sources, must be forced up the nose with enough pressure that it contacts the brain, such as when someone is jumping or diving into fresh water. - Salt water and properly chlorinated water are free from the amoeba - The primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, infection can not be spread from person to person - PAM is rare. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed only 32 deaths in the United States between 2001 and 2010, a rate of about three per year. - Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, high fever and neck stiffness. Those who experience these symptoms after swimming should seek treatment immediately. For more information about Naegleria fowleri, visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Posted in Local news, News on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Service held for child who died of brain infection Keith Gedamke / Special to The Item Service held for child who died of brain infection Mark Christmas sings "How Great Thou Art" during the memorial service for Preston Blake Driggers, 8, at North Side Baptist Church on Monday. BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Attendees at the Monday morning funeral at Northside Memorial Baptist Church wore bright colors. Even the pallbearers wore red, Preston Blake Driggers' favorite color. "Walt and Gingi came to me and said, 'Preacher, we don't want you to wear a black suit,'" said the Rev. Jimmy Holley. "This may be the first one I've done where I'm not wearing black." Blake died Tuesday after contracting a rare infection caused by an amoeba entering his brain tissue. The parents, Walter C. "Walt" and Virginia "Gingi" Strange Driggers, asked for the service to be a celebration of life and for people to wear cheerful colors in the honor of their 8-year-old little boy. The approximate 500 people who came respected their wishes. Everyone who shared their memories talked about an outgoing, happy child. "I loved his smiles," said Tony Horton, long-time family friend. "He was a happy, happy boy who didn't meet a stranger. He'd go right up and talk to you. He was so full of life." Becky Lee, his first-grade teacher, said for Career Day, he dressed up as a clown. "I can't help but think things got a little dull in heaven, and they needed him to cheer things up," she said. "He was so precious and so very strong in his faith at an early age. He'd say, 'Jesus wouldn't want you to do that. Jesus would want you to do this.' I thought he'd be an evangelist." The Rev. Jim Johnson said the rising third-grader was constantly praying for others and Blake's favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. "Many of us have heard that verse and are familiar with it," Johnson said. "He wanted everyone to believe it. He cared for people. At 8-and-a-half, he did God's will. He had an impact on the Kingdom of God. Everyone who has faith wants to hear, 'well done my good faithful servant.' Blake heard those words Tuesday afternoon. For believers, it's not goodbye. It's see you later." A few in the audience said, "Amen." Even though it is a temporary parting, it is still hard. "Even with all the joy, there is a lot of emptiness," said Chuck Driggers, Walt Driggers' older brother and Blake's uncle. "We're all missing Blake. It will take a long time to even begin the healing process. This family will never do anything without Blake." Johnson said he'll miss seeing Blake on Sunday mornings. "I'll be looking for that big ole smile and high five when I get to heaven," he said. And while the family may not understand the loss, they are leaning on God's love, Holley said. "When I walked into the (hospital) room, you could have knocked me over with a feather," he said. "I was amazed at how the Driggers' family was handling this great tragedy." Jeff Ardis, another family friend, was also surprised at how Blake's father sounded when he called to ask him to sing at the service. "It was not the voice I expected," he said. "It was the voice of someone proud, like his son had scored the last touch down." In times like these, people must lean on God, said Joey Duggan, who grew up across the street from Walt Driggers. "The family is doing remarkably well, and the reason they are doing remarkably well is their faith," he said. He and many others also said the family would like to express their gratitude for the outpouring of love and kindness this past week. Walt Driggers is a former police officer and firefighter. Men from both departments served as honorary pallbearers and gave escort to the funeral procession. "For me it was a surprise, but for Blake, for Walt and Gingi, it was not a surprise," Chuck Driggers said. "We're rejoicing in it." He requested continued prayer for the family. Visitors can leave condolences on "Prayers for Blake Driggers" Facebook page, and memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Money will go toward assisting the family with expenses as well as research. "One thing they mentioned is they don't want this tragic event to be in vain," Duggan said. "They want research to be done so that this might be caught earlier and a life could be saved." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Sumter couple raises amoeba awareness Driggerses also provide free nose plugs Walt Driggers, father of Blake Driggers, surrounded by Blake's friends and cousins, releases nine red balloons in Dillon Park in June 2013. Nine balloons were selected because his son would have been nine that year, and red was his favorite color. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Sunday, July 19, 2015 6:00 am BLAKE BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY KONSTANTIN@THEITEM.COM It was just another weekend on the lake for Walt and Gingi Driggers and their children on July 7, 2012. They never imagined that would be the last time they took a family trip with their 8-year-old son, Blake. Blake died July 17, 2012, after contracting Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as "brain-eating amoeba," 10 days after jumping off a dock into Lake Marion. Naegleria fowleri can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, according to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention website. The amoeba infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. It cannot be contracted by accidentally swallowing the water, according to Jim Beasley, spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. "The water must reach your nasal cavity with enough force so it can make its way into the brain," Beasley said. One of the most effective ways to prevent the chances of being infected is either holding your nose as you jump into the water or by using a nose plug. Since the tragedy, the Driggerses have become affiliated with an organization called Kyle Cares Amoeba Awareness, a nonprofit organization in Texas named for Kyle Lewis, another victim of the deadly amoeba. They have received dozens of nose plugs from the organization, which they have been distributing for free in the area. "We want to encourage everyone swimming in freshwater reservoirs to protect themselves, to not take any chances," Walt Driggers said. "We don't want another family to go through what we went through." The Driggerses have held community functions to raise awareness and have also set up a website, www.rememberblake.com, as well as a Facebook page. "We want to educate other parents and let them know there are choices they can make to help prevent this kind of tragedy," said Walt Driggers. Although Naegleria fowleri can be found in some areas of warm freshwater lakes, rivers and soil, its infection is rare, according to Beasley. From 2001 to 2010, 32 infections were reported in the U.S., and one in South Carolina in 2012, according to DHEC. Symptoms usually start one to seven days after infection, but can be out to 15 days and include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck, according to Dr. Anna Kathryn Rye Burch, associate division director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of South Carolina School of Medicine and a physician at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in Columbia. Later symptoms include confusion, lack of attention, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. "It's a very destructive illness which causes deterioration of the brain," said Burch. Blake did not start having symptoms until about a week after swimming in the lake, said his mother, Gingi Driggers. A CAT scan was done at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, and he was then transported to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in Columbia. "Pressure had begun building in his brain, and he couldn't communicate with us," she said. Gingi said he began having seizures and stopped breathing July 16, 2012. "That was when we discovered he had been infected with Naegleria fowleri," she said. "It was terrifying to see our son deteriorate so quickly and to know there was nothing anyone could do." Blake was resuscitated and put on life support. That evening doctors told the Driggerses the devastating news that Blake was brain dead. "It was the most heartbreaking moment you could ever imagine," Gingi said. "Blake was the most tenderhearted person you could ever meet. He always wanted to make sure everyone around him was happy." Infection is fatal in about 95 percent of cases, according to DHEC. Once a person is infected with the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, the illness progresses rapidly, often resulting in death in one to 12 days, Beasley said. Since there is no cure, health care providers can only treat the symptoms, he said. In rare instances, infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water enters the nose, according to the CDC website. Most commonly, exposure results in the amoeba dying before causing infection, according to DHEC. Precautions that can be taken to prevent infection, according DHEC, include: - Avoiding water-related activities in warm, untreated or poorly treated water. If this is not possible or desirable, however; - Avoiding water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water levels; - Holding the nose shut or using nose plugs when taking part in water-related activities; and - Avoiding digging in or stirring up sediment surrounding warm, fresh water. For additional information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/. Those interested in free nose plugs, contact Walt Driggers at (803) 236-0089.  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  HIST	How are Richard and Gerry Bradham his grandparents? jkh Preston Blake Driggers Preston Blake Driggers, 8, died Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of Walter C. “Walt” and Virginia “Gingi” Strange Driggers. Blake was a rising third grader at Alice Drive Elementary School and was a member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church. Survivors include his parents of Sumter; two sisters, Heather Dooley and MaryBeth Dooley, both of the home; paternal grandparents, Charles and Helen Driggers and Richard and Gerry Bradham; aunts and uncles, Chuck Driggers (Jackie), David Driggers, Charlie Driggers (Michelle), Mary Anne Brown (Mike), Beth White (Scooter) and David Strange; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Oscar and Decky Strange; and an uncle, Buddy Strange. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Holley and the Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. today in the ballroom at Quality Inn, 2390 Broad St., Sumter, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Posted in Obituaries on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Sumter boy, 8, dies after contact with rare amoeba By Rhonda Barrick RhondaB@theitem.com Blake Driggers, son of Walt and Gingi Driggers of Sumter, died Tuesday at Palmetto Children’s Hospital. According to family friend Chris Moore, who is updating the Facebook page "Prayers for Blake Driggers," 8-year-old Blake died Tuesday of Naegleria fowler, a deadly amoeba. According to Moore, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta has confirmed that lab results show the young man died after contact with the amoeba while swimming in a lake. According to the CDC website, "Naegleria fowleri infects people by entering the body through the nose. This typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater places like lakes and rivers. Once the ameba enters the brain, it causes a usually fatal infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)." For updated information on the family and services for Blake, visit "Prayers for Blake Driggers" on Facebook. A memorial fund has been set up in Blake’s memory. To donate to the Blake Driggers Memorial Fund, contact any SAFE Federal Credit Union branch in Sumter; donate via Paypal.com at rememberblakedriggers@gmail.com; or drop off or mail donations to Blake’s church, Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Posted in Local news, News on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Officials: Fatal amoeba infection extremely rare Officials: Fatal amoeba infection extremely rare The Facebook page created Monday to provide informationand support for the Driggers family, “Prayers for Blake Driggers,”is seen. The page had more than 2,000 “likes” Thursday afternoon,with posters sharing condolences and prayers for the family.Blake Driggers died Tuesday after contact with a rare amoeba afterswimming with his family in Lake Marion on July 7. View all 3 images in gallery. BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com Blake Driggers will be remembered fondly by those who had the chance to know him in his short life. "You couldn't meet a sweeter child," said Beth White, Blake's aunt. "He never had a frown on his face. He was always eager to help people. You just can't say 'sweet' enough." The 8-year-old Sumter boy died Tuesday after contracting a rare infection caused by an amoeba entering his brain tissue. Doctors think the child contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, after the family went swimming in Lake Marion near Santee on July 7. Blake became ill this past weekend and was rushed Sunday to Tuomey Regional Medical Center with a high fever and was then rushed to Palmetto Children's Hospital with a suspected case of meningitis. It was only after Blake's death that an autopsy was performed and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta confirmed he died from a condition that strikes only a handful of people a year. PAM results from contact with a single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri, which is commonly found in freshwater bodies such as rivers, lakes and springs; only in rare cases can it lead to deadly infections in humans. "Very specific circumstances have to take place for this to result in infection," said Jim Beasley with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. "Water has to shoot up the nose with enough forcible pressure to be introduced to the brain." Cases of PAM can result from jumping or diving into freshwater, although not in saltwater where the amoeba can't survive. Symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, high fever and neck stiffness can be signs of infection if experienced after swimming and should be treated immediately. "People should avoid swimming or jumping into bodies of freshwater when the water is warm and the water levels are low," said Dr. Kathleen Antonetti, a DHEC medical epidemiologist, in a press release sent out after Blake's death. "You cannot be infected by merely drinking water containing the amoeba." The CDC has confirmed only 32 deaths from PAM in the United States between 2001 and 2010, a rate of about three per year. "We are saddened to learn that this child was exposed to the deadly organism Naegleria fowleri," said DHEC Director Catherine Templeton. "While this organism is present in many warm water lakes, rivers and streams in the South, infection in humans is extremely rare." While a Naegleria infection is almost always fatal within a few days of being contracted, DHEC officials say swimmers should not be overly concerned about the health effects of such a rare condition. "It's important to remember that (this organism) occurs naturally," Beasley said. "It's there all the time, but it's only in very special circumstances that it can affect you, which is why it is so rare." Beasley said steps as simple as holding your nose when diving or swimming with a nose clip can prevent exposure. But the rarity of the condition doesn't change the fact that a family has lost its son. Blake's sisters, ages 11 and 17, were undergoing a round of antibiotic treatment as a precaution Thursday at Palmetto Children's Hospital, just in case they attracted a similar infection while swimming. PAM cannot be spread from person to person. "We're all still shocked. It's unbelievable," White said. Members of the Driggers' church, Northside Memorial Baptist in Sumter, have been collecting donations on the family's behalf at its 1004 N. Main St. location, and the community is coming out to support them. "The outpouring of love and comfort is something I've never witnessed," White said. "The nurses at the hospital e-mailed the family and said they'd never experienced anything like it." HOW YOU CAN HELP The family of Blake Driggers requests people keep them in their prayers. A Blake Driggers Memorial Fund has been set up at SAFE Federal Credit Union, and donations can be left at any of SAFE's Sumter locations. Donations can also be sent via PayPal at rememberblakedriggers@gmail.com. A "Prayers for Blake Driggers" page has also been set up on Facebook to provide information from the family and to allow visitors to leave their condolences. Visitation for Driggers will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home, and services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church. WHERE IT'S FOUND Naegleria fowleri is found around the world. In the United States, the majority of infections have been caused by exposure in freshwater located in southern states. The amoeba can be found in: - Bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers - Geothermal (naturally hot) water, such as hot springs - Warm water discharge from industrial plants - Geothermal (naturally hot) drinking water sources - Soil - Swimming pools that are poorly maintained, with either low levels of chlorine or are unchlorinated - Water heaters with temperatures less than 116 degrees. Naegleria fowleri is not found in salt water, like the ocean. For more information about Naegleria fowleri, visithttp://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Source: State Department of Health and Environmental Control NAEGLERIA FOWLERI - Not all swimmers are at risk of infection. Infected waters, primarily fresh water sources, must be forced up the nose with enough pressure that it contacts the brain, such as when someone is jumping or diving into fresh water. - Salt water and properly chlorinated water are free from the amoeba - The primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, infection can not be spread from person to person - PAM is rare. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed only 32 deaths in the United States between 2001 and 2010, a rate of about three per year. - Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, high fever and neck stiffness. Those who experience these symptoms after swimming should seek treatment immediately. For more information about Naegleria fowleri, visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Posted in Local news, News on Thursday, July 19, 2012 Service held for child who died of brain infection Keith Gedamke / Special to The Item Service held for child who died of brain infection Mark Christmas sings "How Great Thou Art" during the memorial service for Preston Blake Driggers, 8, at North Side Baptist Church on Monday. BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com Attendees at the Monday morning funeral at Northside Memorial Baptist Church wore bright colors. Even the pallbearers wore red, Preston Blake Driggers' favorite color. "Walt and Gingi came to me and said, 'Preacher, we don't want you to wear a black suit,'" said the Rev. Jimmy Holley. "This may be the first one I've done where I'm not wearing black." Blake died Tuesday after contracting a rare infection caused by an amoeba entering his brain tissue. The parents, Walter C. "Walt" and Virginia "Gingi" Strange Driggers, asked for the service to be a celebration of life and for people to wear cheerful colors in the honor of their 8-year-old little boy. The approximate 500 people who came respected their wishes. Everyone who shared their memories talked about an outgoing, happy child. "I loved his smiles," said Tony Horton, long-time family friend. "He was a happy, happy boy who didn't meet a stranger. He'd go right up and talk to you. He was so full of life." Becky Lee, his first-grade teacher, said for Career Day, he dressed up as a clown. "I can't help but think things got a little dull in heaven, and they needed him to cheer things up," she said. "He was so precious and so very strong in his faith at an early age. He'd say, 'Jesus wouldn't want you to do that. Jesus would want you to do this.' I thought he'd be an evangelist." The Rev. Jim Johnson said the rising third-grader was constantly praying for others and Blake's favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. "Many of us have heard that verse and are familiar with it," Johnson said. "He wanted everyone to believe it. He cared for people. At 8-and-a-half, he did God's will. He had an impact on the Kingdom of God. Everyone who has faith wants to hear, 'well done my good faithful servant.' Blake heard those words Tuesday afternoon. For believers, it's not goodbye. It's see you later." A few in the audience said, "Amen." Even though it is a temporary parting, it is still hard. "Even with all the joy, there is a lot of emptiness," said Chuck Driggers, Walt Driggers' older brother and Blake's uncle. "We're all missing Blake. It will take a long time to even begin the healing process. This family will never do anything without Blake." Johnson said he'll miss seeing Blake on Sunday mornings. "I'll be looking for that big ole smile and high five when I get to heaven," he said. And while the family may not understand the loss, they are leaning on God's love, Holley said. "When I walked into the (hospital) room, you could have knocked me over with a feather," he said. "I was amazed at how the Driggers' family was handling this great tragedy." Jeff Ardis, another family friend, was also surprised at how Blake's father sounded when he called to ask him to sing at the service. "It was not the voice I expected," he said. "It was the voice of someone proud, like his son had scored the last touch down." In times like these, people must lean on God, said Joey Duggan, who grew up across the street from Walt Driggers. "The family is doing remarkably well, and the reason they are doing remarkably well is their faith," he said. He and many others also said the family would like to express their gratitude for the outpouring of love and kindness this past week. Walt Driggers is a former police officer and firefighter. Men from both departments served as honorary pallbearers and gave escort to the funeral procession. "For me it was a surprise, but for Blake, for Walt and Gingi, it was not a surprise," Chuck Driggers said. "We're rejoicing in it." He requested continued prayer for the family. Visitors can leave condolences on "Prayers for Blake Driggers" Facebook page, and memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church, 1004 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29153. Money will go toward assisting the family with expenses as well as research. "One thing they mentioned is they don't want this tragic event to be in vain," Duggan said. "They want research to be done so that this might be caught earlier and a life could be saved." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Sumter couple raises amoeba awareness Driggerses also provide free nose plugs Walt Driggers, father of Blake Driggers, surrounded by Blake's friends and cousins, releases nine red balloons in Dillon Park in June 2013. Nine balloons were selected because his son would have been nine that year, and red was his favorite color. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Sunday, July 19, 2015 6:00 am BLAKE BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY KONSTANTIN@THEITEM.COM It was just another weekend on the lake for Walt and Gingi Driggers and their children on July 7, 2012. They never imagined that would be the last time they took a family trip with their 8-year-old son, Blake. Blake died July 17, 2012, after contracting Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as "brain-eating amoeba," 10 days after jumping off a dock into Lake Marion. Naegleria fowleri can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, according to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention website. The amoeba infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. It cannot be contracted by accidentally swallowing the water, according to Jim Beasley, spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. "The water must reach your nasal cavity with enough force so it can make its way into the brain," Beasley said. One of the most effective ways to prevent the chances of being infected is either holding your nose as you jump into the water or by using a nose plug. Since the tragedy, the Driggerses have become affiliated with an organization called Kyle Cares Amoeba Awareness, a nonprofit organization in Texas named for Kyle Lewis, another victim of the deadly amoeba. They have received dozens of nose plugs from the organization, which they have been distributing for free in the area. "We want to encourage everyone swimming in freshwater reservoirs to protect themselves, to not take any chances," Walt Driggers said. "We don't want another family to go through what we went through." The Driggerses have held community functions to raise awareness and have also set up a website, www.rememberblake.com, as well as a Facebook page. "We want to educate other parents and let them know there are choices they can make to help prevent this kind of tragedy," said Walt Driggers. Although Naegleria fowleri can be found in some areas of warm freshwater lakes, rivers and soil, its infection is rare, according to Beasley. From 2001 to 2010, 32 infections were reported in the U.S., and one in South Carolina in 2012, according to DHEC. Symptoms usually start one to seven days after infection, but can be out to 15 days and include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck, according to Dr. Anna Kathryn Rye Burch, associate division director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of South Carolina School of Medicine and a physician at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in Columbia. Later symptoms include confusion, lack of attention, loss of balance, seizures and hallucinations. "It's a very destructive illness which causes deterioration of the brain," said Burch. Blake did not start having symptoms until about a week after swimming in the lake, said his mother, Gingi Driggers. A CAT scan was done at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, and he was then transported to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in Columbia. "Pressure had begun building in his brain, and he couldn't communicate with us," she said. Gingi said he began having seizures and stopped breathing July 16, 2012. "That was when we discovered he had been infected with Naegleria fowleri," she said. "It was terrifying to see our son deteriorate so quickly and to know there was nothing anyone could do." Blake was resuscitated and put on life support. That evening doctors told the Driggerses the devastating news that Blake was brain dead. "It was the most heartbreaking moment you could ever imagine," Gingi said. "Blake was the most tenderhearted person you could ever meet. He always wanted to make sure everyone around him was happy." Infection is fatal in about 95 percent of cases, according to DHEC. Once a person is infected with the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, the illness progresses rapidly, often resulting in death in one to 12 days, Beasley said. Since there is no cure, health care providers can only treat the symptoms, he said. In rare instances, infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated and contaminated tap water enters the nose, according to the CDC website. Most commonly, exposure results in the amoeba dying before causing infection, according to DHEC. Precautions that can be taken to prevent infection, according DHEC, include: - Avoiding water-related activities in warm, untreated or poorly treated water. If this is not possible or desirable, however; - Avoiding water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water levels; - Holding the nose shut or using nose plugs when taking part in water-related activities; and - Avoiding digging in or stirring up sediment surrounding warm, fresh water. For additional information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/. Those interested in free nose plugs, contact Walt Driggers at (803) 236-0089.
  _UID	BF26C3218AB543CC8D5752D364D26EB377F3
  _UID	BF26C3218AB543CC8D5752D364D26EB377F3
  Death	17 Jul 2012	Palmetto Children’s Hospital, Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia, South Carolina
  Burial	23 Jul 2012	Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina   [1, 2]
  	Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home & Crematorium, Sumter, South Carolina Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home & Crematorium, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I280341	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Aug 2015

  
  

  Father	Walter C. “Walt” DRIGGERS
  Mother	Virginia “Gingi” STRANGE
  _UID	5ECFF4E51C1A43E7BDE5FD5E567389A65B7D
  _UID	5ECFF4E51C1A43E7BDE5FD5E567389A65B7D
  Family ID	F75268	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S18280] Preston Blake Driggers. [S18281] Sumter boy, 8, dies after contact with rare amoeba. [S18289] Officials: Fatal amoeba infection extremely rare. [S22918] Sumter couple raises amoeba awareness. [S18332] Service held for child who died of brain infection.