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Jax Brings Comfort

September 21, 2020

No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child.

In Citrus County, a locally founded organization is available as a source of comfort for those who have suffered this unimaginable loss.

Footprints on my Heart is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides services to parents and their families who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal, or infant loss.

Founder and president of Footprints on my Heart, Raynna Hammon, created this organization for families and women like her who experienced this tragedy and could not find available resources to endure the struggle.
“The whole reason we founded Footprints on my Heart was to help people in our community that are going through exactly what my husband and I went through,” Hammon said. “We couldn’t find the resources we needed. So, we gathered everything we learned through our loss to share it with families so they don’t have to struggle as much as we had to.”

Hammon has worked hard to cultivate an environment that provides tools and comfort to those families in need. Through this, she has made deep connections and had an unforgettable impact on many lives.

Recently, Footprints on my Heart was donated a golden retriever puppy from one of the “lost families” helped by this organization.

Jax, named after the inspiration behind this organization, Jaxon, was donated in memory of baby Carson-Riley and baby Rayne and will be fully trained as a therapy dog.

“Having Jax around will bring people comfort during difficult times,” Hammon said. “Plus, who doesn’t want to love on a puppy?”

Once trained, he will be able to attend events for the organization and allowed access to hospitals to assist lost families on another level. Jax will allow the group more opportunities to spread awareness of pregnancy and infant loss.

“We’ve been able to be there in the hospitals to help these families,” Hammon said. “It’s a healing process. When you speak up about what you’re going through, it helps to make you feel not so alone. It helps me heal every time I share my story.”

Although suffering an indescribable loss, Hammon and her husband have been able to share a light with families during dark times of their own by the founding of Footprints on my Heart.

“We’re taking our tragedy and trying to turn it around so others know they are not alone,” Hammon said. “It keeps my son’s legacy alive. This loss wasn’t for nothing.”

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