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KDF Bridges

Overview

The KDF Bridges program matches families currently facing Kawasaki Disease with trained Support Volunteers. The volunteers are generally parents of children who have Kawasaki Disease, or adult patients who have recovered from Kawasaki Disease. The volunteers are screened and trained by experienced support professionals. The role of the support volunteer is to provide personal insight that may be helpful in coping with Kawasaki Disease.

The program evolved as a method of accomplishing one of the Foundation's basic goals: providing support to families dealing with the diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease.


Guidelines

Support Volunteers do not provide medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice you should contact your child's pediatrician. If you have questions about your child's medical care, the Foundation can connect your child's pediatrician with one of our medical advisors for a medical consultation.

The role of the Support Volunteer is to listen with empathy and provide a safe, supportive environment for people to express themselves. Support Volunteers are not a substitute for a mental health professional.

There is no fee for participating in the KDF Bridges program. Support Volunteers commit to make two calls to the requesting family (up to about a one-hour conversation). Beyond the two calls, the ongoing relationship between the requesting family and the Support Volunteer is solely up to the personal discretion of the Support Volunteer.

For email support, the Support Volunteer will commit to ongoing (subject to an mutually agreed schedule) email correspondence for up to one week. Beyond the initial week, the ongoing relationship between the requesting family and the Support Volunteer is solely up to the personal discretion of the Support Volunteer.

Families can request support by calling 813-758-8686, sending an email to krwicker@hotmail.com or submitting an on-line request form.


Regional Support Volunteers

The following people have been screened and trained are ready to call you or email you to share their KD experience, or just listen to yours. Although they have offered to have their email address and telephone numbers posted on this site, please contact Karin Wicker at the Foundation through the web site, by email to krwicker@hotmail.com, or telephone 813-758-8686 before contacting a support volunteer directly.

Erica Gorman
Glastonbury, CT
United States

860-633-8755
kd-mom@cox.net
Chris Gabler
Hoffman Est, IL
United States
224-766-0810

Tower82@aol.com
Donna Collins
St. Ann, MO
United States
314-291-5999

dmrc3513@aol.com
Elizabeth Mulle
Chester County, PA
United States
610-910-6053

emulle@comcast.net
Leyla Oezmal
Duisburg,
Germany
0203 / 351247
0179 / 4084199
l.oezmal@web.de
Bob R. Hsia
Grain Valley, MO
United States
816-847-8274
913-406-7221
rickakabob2@hotmail.com
Victoria Lopez
Bronx, NY
United States
347-739-2567

vlo137@aol.com
Nancy Foster
Fairhaven, MA
United States
508-997-9184

nancynfoster@verizon.net
Tami Barrett
Sturgeon, MO
United States
573-687-1237

tjbarrett_65@hotmail.com
Amy Shanholtzer
Winfield, WV
United States
304-586-2837
304-476-2279
Shanny2500@aol.com
Jaci Duffina
, Texas
United States
245-913-9190

jcduffina@hotmail.com
Kristina Domich
Santee, CA
United States
619-334-1503

kdvader3@aol.com
Mark & Sharon Sativa
Rockford Phoenix Durban,
South Africa
+2731-539-3023
+2731-328-3141
kdfsa@webmail.co.za
Tina Ramsey
Grandview, MO
United States
816-765-4040

rramchery1@sbcglobal.net.org
Cynthia Dais
S. Richmond Hill, NY
United States
718-846-0126
347-528-0352
csdais@aol.com
Deb Stremke
Greenfield (Milwaukee Area), WI
United States
414-321-8054

pacedheart@aol.com
Vanessa Bisson
Ft. McMurray Alberta,
Canada
780-714-6050

proudmom@telus.net
Maryellen Para
Albuquerque, NM
United States
505-839-2185

Maryellen@compositous.com
Diane Solomon
Valencia, CA
United States
661-753-9809
818-280-7629
ladydisolomon@yahoo.com
Robin Daniels
Highlands Ranch, CO
US
303-805-8471
720-272-3237
alpinecheer@yahoo.com
Janelle Hutson
Castle Rock, CO
US
720-733-9727

jhutson@avaya.com
Uma ODonnell
Long Island, NY
US
516-365-1047

save_a_childs_heart@yahoo.com
Kelly Broderick
Bradenton, FL
US
941-322-8995

kbroderick@sjsfl.org
Aylee Sunstrom
Melbourne,
Australia
61-03-59688594

gaylesunstrom@iprimus.com.au
Jamie Dulcie
Canton, OH
US
330-479-2766

jamiedulcie@yahoo.com
Ann Cardwell
Kernersville, NC
US

336-406-1859
ann_cardwell@yahoo.com
Gabriel Quintero
Managua ,
Nicaragua
505-251-8439
505-628-0714
gabrielquintero@hotmail.com; gquintero06@gmail.com
Erin Zaborowski
Raleigh, NC
US
919-832-0811

ezaborowski@nc.rr.com
Kate Davila
Kenmore , WA
US
425-320-6109

katedavila@yahoo.com
Nicole Pinske
Bloomington, MN
US
(952) 838-9900 Ext. 13822
612-532-8039
NPinske@americanequity.com
Emily Dardick
Shendoah Jct, WV
US
304-876-3533

edardick@comcast.net
Jaclyn Barry
Boston, MA
US


jaclynbarry@yahoo.com
Joanne Sasso
Bordentown, NJ
US
609-291-9522

jsasso3@comcast.net
Cheryl Hajjar
Lawrence, MA
US
978-975-2049
(978) 479 4899
hajj33@mac.com
Bryanne Howe
HIghland, IN
US

219-741-0557
bry_howe@yahoo.com
Shirley Mates
Melbourne,
Australia
(03)9894-1257

matesfhill@hotmail.com

Volunteering

Support Volunteers from around the United States participate in KDF Bridges. As a volunteer, you will only be listed on the web site at your request. Please contact us if you interested in volunteering. The Foundation offers free training for Support Volunteers.

Contact KDF directly at 978-356-2070 or 813-758-8686 if you need to speak to a Support Volunteer immediately.


Training to Become a Volunteer

To become a Bridges volunteer, you first need training.



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