KDF Bridges

Home

Family Center

KDF Bridges

About Us

Contact

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.