With first hand experience, our organization understands the unique struggles and challenges families face during times of loss. We feel the importance of your child’s memory and ways to honor their sweet life.
Our foundation is motivated by a deep commitment to creating a safe and supportive community where families can find solace, share experiences, and know they are not alone, based on the principle of empathy and understanding.
Supporting Families Together
Here is our story, Mason’s story.
Mason is our second child, first son. We found out early December 2020 that we were expecting a child. We were able to share the news over the Christmas holiday. Our pregnancy was pretty normal. I am a diabetic, we had placenta anterior. Nothing that couldn’t be managed. At a regularly scheduled sonogram- we heard those four words. “There’ s no heart beat”. Our son was born, still, June 22, 2021.
Our medical care was supportive and caring. We had great team between my doctor, nurses, hospital staff. As a family, we have a fantastic support system with families, friend, and employers. As a community, there wasn’t much help in our area. Instead of leaving labor and delivery with our son, we left with a folder of some general nationwide information, my medical discharge packet, but very little else.
I felt like an empty shell of a person. I felt like I was one of very few having to live in this world without my son. At times, like the only one in the world having to live without him. Logically, I know this isn’t true. There are so many families with a forever hole in their hearts, arms that will always be longing.
Mason’s whole life was within my body. We delivered our baby into the world at 33 weeks. There was soft background music, muttering from medical team. You could hear the emotions though. The silence was deafening.
After, our support system was there. They helped us with meals, checking in. Just being there. As we planned Mason’s service, and as we continue talk about Mason and share his story, we hear more. More stories of more children who watch over us. Everywhere. It is almost where people only share their children, when they are around someone else who has been a hollow shell of a person too. The silence is deafening.
We were lucky, having a great support and access to resources. Many families, do not have this. Those who want to support, may not know how to help or what to do. Those parents may have to remain in the silence, even if everything inside them is screaming. The silence is still deafening.
This is why. To allow families a place to share our sorrows. To provide a few objects to hold in their empty arms. To help parents facing the unnatural order of having to grieve for their child. To share the love we have for our babies, while we wait to hold them. To break the deafening silence.
The louder we are, the less silence there can be.
Nonprofit Board
Kayla Taylor
Driven by a desire to comfort others experiencing similar heartbreak, established Mason’s Mourning Light Foundation. This inspiration stemmed from the immense solace she received from care packages sent by a former classmate after the tragic loss of her son, Mason, at 33 weeks gestation.
Kelli Herbers
Kelli Herbers, vice president of MML, brings both her belief in the cause and her passion for helping others to her role. She is empathetic, optimistic, and fun bringing insight and charisma to the foundation and those served.
Marijo Teare Rooney
Driven by a deep belief in the power of community service, Marijo leverages her past experiences to ensure MML’s strong financial foundation. As MML’s treasurer, she ensures a secure financial future, enabling us to continuously support our communities.
Nikki Heitmann
“After suffering from a missed miscarriage after over a year of TTC, I felt at a loss of where to turn. I knew nothing about the world of infertility or pregnancy loss until I found myself dealing with it face to face. I’m so thankful to be a part of MML, and helping women and families going through the unthinkable. I hope to help advocate, support and inspire those we cross paths with. “
Megan Borger
“MML is important to me because I’ve struggled with infertility for the last 5 years and had a miscarriage 4 years ago. My goal is to help people find comfort and to make sure they know there are resources so they don’t feel alone in this process.”
Cecily Hodges
Cecily has been a pillar of Mason’s Mourning Light Foundation since its inception. Not only does she currently serve as secretary, but she was also instrumental in creating the foundation’s name and logo.
Brandon Taylor
Brandon is our father-to-support coordinator. He ensures all services help honor the fathers of angels. Brandon helped found Mason’s Mourning Light Foundation, after loss of his son, Mason, at 33 weeks gestation.
