02/02/2026
I found out in the airport bathroom.
FATIMA PART 3.
After my spiritual encounter at St Anthony of the Olive Groves and then Our Lady’s request at the children’s hospital where Jacinta died (see PARTS 1 & 2), I felt confident that our next baby would die of a terminal illness.
The trip remained fruitful & grace filled. I kept my experiences tucked close to my heart and shared with no one until the day we left to head home. “I’m late”, I shared with my baby sister. We went to an airport drugstore and bought two tests. I was so incredibly anxious. She came into the bathroom stall with me, where the test revealed almost immediately: “grávida”, pregnant, in Portuguese.
I immediately started to sob.
My poor sister was elate and became instantly confused when she saw that my tears were sorrowful. I shared with her in confidence what I felt like was going to happen….what Our Lady had asked of me. It was a beautiful, intimate moment for the two of us, sharing this experience and this little secret of ours.
I was genuinely excited to share the news with my husband when I got home, but there was a heaviness, a weight to this news, that I felt I had to communicate as well. I had to prepare his heart. As confused as he was, he took the news in stride, & we resolved together that no matter what happened, we were going to embrace this pregnancy with joy and gratitude.
When my first OB appointment rolled around, I had a sense of foreboding. The ultrasound was near unbearable. [Any loss Mama can feel the pangs of this 🥺] While waiting for the Dr I told my husband “that’s not what an 8 week old baby in gestation should look like”. Never in a million years did I expect the words that escaped our lips after the Dr came in.
“Twins” *blow # 1*
“Conjoined” *blow # 2*
In the subsequent weeks that followed our loss, I felt a peace that only Our Lady could have provided. It brought me much comfort to think my babies, while I had them, were there with me in Fatima.
As I type this, we are currently waiting to board a flight to Fatima. Our Lady has called me back and has asked me to bring my husband 💙 Our story isn’t over yet. PART FOUR to come 🙏🏼