How We Can Help

The mission of the Erika Kate Foundation is to help ease the emotional, spiritual, and financial burdens borne by families of children with life-threatening heart conditions.

In keeping with our mission, we generally offer short-term financial assistance to families of children with life-threatening heart conditions, particularly those in the midst of a heart related medical crisis or prolonged hospitalization.  In these situations, we can help with a wide variety of dislocation expenses, as well as ongoing ‘at home’ expenses like mortgage/rent payments, utility payments, etc.  In certain circumstances we can also help with doctor or pharmacy co-pays.

We have also counseled parents on issues related to dealing with insurance companies and hospital/medical bills.

We offer emotional support to families in the thick of a medical crisis with their child.  We’ve been there.  We know what it’s like.  We’re willing to support them through a crisis, and walk with them through grief if things take a turn for the worse.  We’ve assembled a team of parents who have experienced similar storms with their children and can offer a unique perspective on the situation.  Most of this interaction is carried out via the internet.

We also offer spiritual support to parents and families.  We interact with families at a very stressful time in their lives. We know that parents are often willing to engage in conversation about God in relation to the troubles they’re facing.  Because of their history with their own children, EKF ‘representatives’ are able to offer some unique perspectives to parents in the midst of their storm.    Not every parent is open to discussing such matters at such a critical time.  We let them lead us into this dialogue and are prepared to gently share with them many of the insights learned in the midst of our own storm.   This is not always a tangible ’service’, but it is very often the result of our interactions with parents in crisis.