Tawana is my name (her birth mother). My daughter Kianna Luz Custodio-Montalvo was declared a still-birth by the hospital but she wasn’t. She was born alive. Unfortunately she was premature and wouldn’t survive well outside of me. I was 6 months pregnant when my water broke.
After making funeral arrangents for an open casket, the funeral director informed us that she would need a closed casket due to the burns on her skin. Kianna was found in a jar, on her way to a school for studying. My heart was broken at the treatment of her. I cancelled the funeral and told the director, “do what you want with her because that’s not my baby!” Twenty-two years later, I heard about Hart Island and will visit her grave. I will inquire about obtaining the permit to take her home. This grave will be empty because plot 58 grave 770 won’t exist to us anymore. Her name is Kianna Luz Custodio-Montalvo. Thank you so much for this opportunity, to honor my baby.
Tawana Custodio