Programs
KIDNEY KIDS Blood Pressure Monitor Loaner Program
In August of 2004, KIDNEY KIDS purchased two GE Medical Systems Dinamap blood pressure monitoring machines to begin implementation of the KIDNEY KIDS Blood Pressure Monitor Loaner Program at INOVA's Pediatric Kidney Center. This equipment is loaned to families that are required to closely monitor their child's blood pressure to help determine the necessary medical protocol and appropriate medication levels. Previously, families would use the manual "blow-up" cuffs, which can be very inaccurate for the untrained and thus cause additional stress for the families. There has been such a need for these machines that in May of 2006, KIDNEY KIDS purchased two additional Dinamaps for the Pediatric Kidney Center.
KIDNEY KIDS Financial Assistance Program
We are here to help!
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
KIDNEY KIDS Financial Assistance program provides grants to families of children with kidney diseases or illnesses. These grants assist in alleviating the financial burden placed on families as a result of treating and caring for a child with a kidney disease or illness. A significant burden can be placed upon families as a result of medical bills, medications, frequency of treatment plans, necessary home-based medical equipment and supplies, as well as time away from work and lack of medical insurance.
Here is how we have helped recently
KIDNEY KIDS provided direct financial assistance to two families from D.C. Children's Dialysis Unit. The mother of one of the children on dialysis had recently been fired from her job for using leave to take her child to the regular dialysis treatments. The financial assistance helped the family bridge the gap until she found a new job.
KIDNEY KIDS purchased Nepro (a special formula supplement) for a 5 year-old boy who has been on peritoneal dialysis for several years. The boy had suffered from a failure to thrive but had recently turned a corner since the introduction of Nepro to his diet. Unfortunately, he had reached an age where he was no longer eligible to receive the supplement at a discount and his father had recently been laid off. KIDNEY KIDS purchased several months worth of Nepro for the family to provide the time for the father to look for a new job and for the family to complete the necessary paperwork for a different discount program so the family could again receive the Nepro at a discounted price.
KIDNEY KIDS paid for the travel expenses for the family of a boy who is awaiting a kidney transplant so that his entire family could travel to a special needs camp in Maine.
KIDNEY KIDS has paid numerous medication prescription co-payments for several families whose children are either undergoing dialysis or have other kidney diseases or illnesses. Many of these families struggle with the financial burden of continuing treatment costs.
Please let us know what we can do to help you!
Call KIDNEY KIDS at (703) 620-0939.
KIDNEY KIDS Prescription Assistance Program
KIDNEY KIDS Prescription Assistance Program provides help to families of children with kidney diseases or illnesses by purchasing medications, supplements and necessary home-based medical equipment and supplies.
PEDIATRIC KIDNEY CENTERS
KIDNEY KIDS will purchase needed supplies and equipment for pediatric kidney centers. These items could include, but will not be limited to dialysis equipment, medications, general pediatric kidney supplies and equipment as well as items that will help make visits to the centers less traumatic for the children and their families (books, TV's with VCR's, toys, games, stickers, etc.) Children undergoing dialysis or other treatments may spend 3-5 hours twice a week, at these centers.
"KIDNEY KIDS Partners With The Starlight Children's Foundation To Help Make Kids Smile"
In October of 2004, KIDNEY KIDS purchased two "Fun Centers" from the Starlight Children's Foundation and had them placed at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children's Pediatric Kidney Center and the Children's National Medical Center - Pediatric Dialysis Unit (D.C. Children's). The mobile, multi-media Fun Center units are one of the signature programs for the Starlight Foundation. These brightly colored, mobile entertainment units contain a TV, VCR and Nintendo 64 game system in an irresistible enclosure that rolls right above the bed of a hospitalized child.
While entertainment is the prime focus of the program, its effects are far-reaching. Hospitals report that they frequently rely on "Fun Centers" to divert children during long hours of dialysis or treatments, and further, find that when children utilize "Fun Centers" during post-op their requirement for pain medication is reduced. Often described as "life savers" during long waiting periods during treatments, Fun Centers also help alleviate feelings of loneliness and boredom for children.
ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENT DAY
This event will be a day for the children and their parents to meet other families who may be sharing similar experiences so they can learn from each other and hopefully realize they are not alone. More importantly, it will be a day for the kids and parents to have fun - a day for KIDNEY KIDS to feel like normal kids.
The INOVA Pediatric Kidney Center picnic was held on September 30th at Nottoway Park in Vienna. KIDNEY KIDS provided the picnic rental area, pony and horse rides, a face-painting clown, a moonbounce, food and prizes for all of the patients, their siblings and their parents, including Redskins and Nationals tickets, Ipod shuffles and Portable DVD players. All of the patients and their deserving families had a great time and we believe that this event has a very positive impact on those families in many ways. This is the third year that KIDNEY KIDS has sponsored this event.
EDUCATION
KIDNEY KIDS will educate the public about children with kidney disease and illnesses (i.e. prevention, screening and organ transplantation). This will be accomplished by the distribution of literature (fact sheets and brochures) to citizens, families and businesses at appropriate venues such as health fairs and community events.
SUPPORT OF LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS
KIDNEY KIDS will also support other organizations that assist children with kidney diseases and illnesses and their families and that are organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes and which qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
KIDNEY KIDS will also engage in other activities and implement other programs related to supporting children with kidney diseases and illnesses as well as their families to lessen the physical, emotional impacts of living with a kidney disease or illness.
