Two sisters lost their babies weeks apart, now they want other moms to know about an Austin grief, healing support group
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a literal dream come true for sisters Peggy Lester and Falon Cicero when they found out they were both pregnant.
"We have two children that are about two years apart, and we had always dreamed about being pregnant at the same time, and we were just living, living our best life, pregnant together," Cicero said.
The excitement would turn to grief shortly after. The two faced impossible situations leading to the loss of their babies.
"In our 13-week scan, we went in and our little baby was diagnosed with anencephaly, which is a fatal neural tube defect where the brain doesn't fully develop and the skull doesn't fully develop," Cicero said.
Before Cicero and her family could even begin to fully process this loss, weeks later, Lester would find out devastating news about her unborn child. That news, heartbreaking for the family after dealing with years of infertility issues, not expecting they'd ever be able to have another child, Lester said.
"We found out our little baby did not have a heartbeat," Lester said.
It's the sisters' first Mother's Day since they lost their babies, but the two said they recently joined a support group that has helped them with their healing journey.
ATX Loss Mama, based in Austin, "exists to support, grieve, and celebrate all forms of motherhood," its website says. "We provide a community for loss mothers—including those who have experienced miscarriage, TFMR, stillbirth, infant or child loss, and adoption loss—while offering essential resources for loss families."
Cicero and Lester said they attended the group's Bereaved Mothers' Day event, connecting with other mothers, who, too, are coping with loss that isn't widely talked about.
"To sit down at a table and not have to hide any tears, anything," Cicero said. "I met women that had their child in the NICU for five months, and then they passed in pregnancy losses. Everybody shared their story...everybody was so vulnerable."
Cicero and Lester have also turned their pain into purpose through the support of ATX Loss Mama and their families.
Their sister-in-law created a candle in honor of Milies Elliot, Cicero's unborn baby, for anencephaly awareness. Proceeds are donated to Rose Mary's Love, a nonprofit supporting families who experience infant loss.