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Grieving dad seeks help for another
January, 2000
 story by Jewell Cardwell
Akron Beacon Journal
Before this week, I hadn't spoken in years to Todd Little, although thoughts of him frequently raced through my mind.
I met Little in May 1994, in the surgical waiting room of Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron. When he wasn't pacing back and forth, he was sitting on the edge of his seat.
His eyes were always brimming with tears.
Andrew, one of Little's 5-week-old triplet sons, was undergoing hernia surgery.
Given the lightning speed from Little's celebration of the miracle of their births to his reeling from the death of his wife, Linn, nine days later, his lost-in-space demeanor was understandable.
Linn Little was diagnosed at delivery with a rare degenerative heart disease, peripartum cardiomyopathy. She was able to hold and name her babies. Taylor and Logan are the other two.
Todd Little, who is still one of the walking wounded, was helped by people from Akron and neighboring environs who showered him with everything from baby formula to car seats, clothes and money.
The triplets, who will be 6 on March 31, stay with Little's parents in Dover; he lives in New Philadelphia and works in Dover.
``They're busy, strong, well-built boys,'' Little said. ``Taylor likes to play with his little Army men. Logan loves Batman. Andrew doesn't like toys, but tools and fixing things; it seems he's always looking for something to get into.''
No more to give
Paralyzed with grief over his wife's death, Little retreated into himself, unable for a long while to return to his social work job: ``I just couldn't go back. I didn't have any more to give,'' he said. ``Later, I tried to get a job where I didn't have to care about people.''
But it would prove impossible to permanently shelve 20 years of social service experience.
These days Little works as director of bereavement services at the Toland-Herzig funeral home in Dover, the site of his wife's funeral.
He started out part time with support groups. But that soon mushroomed into a full-time position. ``It is the most difficult job I could ever imagine, but the most rewarding at the same time,'' the soft-spoken Little said, revealing why he decided to call.
``I'm calling about a real nice lady, Lori Kieffer,'' he said, his voice trailing off. ``I work here with her father, Lars King, who is the funeral director.
``Lori died Saturday.
``She just took a nap and never woke up. She was just 23.''
Lori Kieffer, I would learn, has a husband, Will, and a 3-year-old daughter, Ashley, and had given birth the first week in December to twin daughters, Vanessa and Melissa.
Lori Kieffer appeared to have had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery at Mercy Medical Center in Canton. She died at her home near Dover. ``Her death has just rocked the entire staff here,'' said Little, who knows all too well that unreachable look in Will Kieffer's eyes.
Finding ways to help
``I'm just trying to come up with things to help out,'' he said. ``This is a family that was already having a hard time making ends meet. . . . They live in a little mobile home.
``I've been calling Playtex, Gerber Foods, Dry Bottoms, Johnson & Johnson for help.
``I thought of you and a few others and how what you did helped me and my boys.''
Lori Kieffer will be buried today after a 1 p.m. funeral at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia.
But her husband's heartache will have only just begun, Little can attest.
In fact, Little is still walking down that same lonely road.
Perhaps, in time, the Kieffer girls' daddy will be able to reach out to help another daddy in need, like Little is doing for him.
It's how we heal.
Interested in helping Vanessa, Melissa and Ashley Kieffer?
Mail donations care of Toland-Herzig Funeral Home, 803 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622.
Jewell Cardwell's column runs Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Messages for her can be left at 330-996-3567.
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