Foundation Vision/Foundation History

Why the foundation was started....

I am Jen Iacino-Taylor, the President and Founder of an organization. I tragically lost my son when he was just 3 months and 9 days old. With limited family support, I had to handle the difficult tasks of informing my family, arranging the finances for his burial, and coping with the emotional aftermath of losing a child to an unknown cause. After 23 years of seeking closure, I made the decision to have my son exhumed and cremated so that I could have him with me every day. I continue to grapple with many unanswered questions on a daily basis. People often wonder why my child passed away, why I chose to have him exhumed, and why I am still grieving. Through my research, I discovered a significant lack of resources for families in similar situations. The goal of our foundation is to bridge that gap. Families who experience the loss of a child in a medical facility have access to various resources, such as hospital clergy, victim advocacy, disease foundations, and medical insurance. However, this support is generally short-term, with limited follow-up or long-term assistance.

Foundation History

Now that you have read my story about my son, I'd like to share more about who Little Man was. Four years ago, I met my best friend, and with his support, I found peace in my grieving process. We often visited Little Man's grave and talked at length about him. During our discussions, I shared the inner conflict I faced due to family pressure, personal beliefs, and the beliefs of the Catholic Church. With Don's help, I made the tough decision to have Johnathon cremated and bring his ashes home. The process involved obtaining permissions from the State and a lot of paperwork from the supportive cemetery, despite their limited experience with such situations involving children. I also reached out to Johnathon's father, whom I hadn't spoken to for many years. It was a difficult call, but he agreed to sign the paperwork.

I was concerned about the church's stance on my wishes, but Don took the initiative to meet with a local church leader and got clarifications on my behalf. It was reassuring to hear the church's position directly. Additionally, a childhood friend who held a high position in the church agreed to come and bless Johnathon and the process the day before the exhumation.

The entire process took approximately 6 months, and during that time, Don and I got married. While we awaited the day (August 1), we continued discussing the challenges we had faced and the potential to use my experiences to help others. One evening, we heard a news story about a father who had lost his child in a car wreck and was struggling with the aftermath. This inspired the idea of creating "Little Man’s Legacy" – a personalized support network for families who unexpectedly lose a young family member, as well as educating first responders on better ways to support these families.

After meeting all necessary guidelines, recruiting board members, and obtaining a copyright for the logo (Little Man's favorite toy, a red dinosaur), we established Little Man's Legacy. We now reach out to families who suffer a loss or respond when contacted by families. Our first year has been busy, and we aim to continue expanding and offering support to as many families as possible during their time of need.