For two grieving mothers, the search for comfort after losing their daughters in the Camp Mystic flood has led to signs they believe came straight from heaven.
The mother of a young girl who tragically lost her life at Camp Mystic during the catastrophic floods in Texas says she has found evidence that her daughter is now with God.
“A Clear ‘E’ in the Sky”
Missy Peck is still reeling after her daughter, Eloise, was one of the 27 campers and counselors killed when torrential floods swept through the Texas all-girls Christian camp over the Fourth of July weekend.
One night, as she sat by a bonfire with family, she looked up and saw what she believes was proof her little girl is safe.
“There was an ‘E’ — a very clear ‘E’ in the sky, crystal blue,” Missy told NBC DFW. “It could only have been God, the universe, and Lulu working together.”
Ladybugs for Lailabug
She wasn’t the only mother who says she’s received a sign. Caitlin Bonner, who lost her daughter Lila, recalled begging for reassurance. The answer, she says, came in the form of ladybugs.
“We got home and there were ladybugs all over our staircase. Not one, but about 10. A few even lingered afterward. Then on the first day of school, the awning of our front porch was covered with nearly 30 ladybugs. Scarlet looked up and said, ‘Mom, Lila’s here!’”
Caitlin often called her daughter “Lailabug.” She and Missy say their girls were best friends and first-time campers, inseparable until the end.
“They linked arms, frolicked off, and never looked back,” Caitlin said, remembering the last goodbye.
Turning Grief Into Action
Though the pain is unbearable, both families are now pushing for change. Together, they’ve launched the Heaven’s 27 Foundation to honor the victims and demand new safety laws for Texas camps.
Their proposed Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act focuses on prevention, detection, training, and response, including removing cabins from flood zones, requiring 24-hour monitoring and notification systems, evacuation plans, and weather radios.
“I wouldn’t wish what we’ve gone through on my worst enemy,” Missy said. “We have to make sure every child is safe. Every child.”
A Call for Urgency
Texas lawmakers say they are listening. “There is a massive push to deliver. We will get this done. We are not going to put kids to sleep in a flood plain,” Rep. John McQueeney vowed.
But for parents like Caitlin and Missy, time is everything. Without quick action, reforms could be delayed until 2027 or even 2028.
“That’s not a risk I’d be willing to take again as a parent,” Caitlin said.
Remembering Eloise and Lila
As lawmakers debate, families continue to grieve. Some wear “Heaven’s 27” buttons, others share stories of laughter, faith, and the little signs that bring them peace.
“Nothing will bring our girls back,” Caitlin’s husband Blake said. “We’re trying to honor their legacy and letting this tragedy be a catalyst for change.”
For Missy, that single “E” in the sky was enough to believe her daughter is safe with God. For Caitlin, it was a porch full of ladybugs. And for both mothers, the hope is that their daughters’ deaths will not be in vain.
