Founder of MoxieMoms

Megan’s journey to founding MoxieMoms is a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable loss and a fierce desire to create a community where no one grieves alone.

In 2021, Megan and her husband Joe experienced the heartbreaking loss of their second daughter, Delaney. Leaving the hospital with empty arms and an overwhelming sense of isolation, they quickly realized there were no resources, no village, and no guidance for navigating a world without their child. The months following Delaney’s death were filled with a relentless search for support, but Megan found nothing that addressed the unique needs of a mother grieving the death and the unlived life of her child. Most resources required costly, lengthy commitments, which only added to her frustration and sense of isolation.

In 2022, as her grief began to soften, Megan realized there was a critical lack of resources for families like hers. The world had moved on, leaving her to cope with her loss alone. Despite several miscarriages and an ongoing search for support, Megan couldn’t find the community she so desperately needed. That’s when she decided to take action.

On the third anniversary of Delaney’s death, Megan was determined to create the support and resources she had never had—a movement to offer guidance, connection, and healing for families facing similar loss. In February 2024, a serendipitous moment led to a powerful reconnection with Edith Guthrie Nelson, the labor and delivery nurse who had been with them during Delaney’s birth. This reunion sparked the creation of MoxieMoms.

MoxieMoms was born from a shared belief that no one should walk the painful road of grief alone. It’s a community where mothers like Megan can find the support they need, and healthcare workers can access tools to better serve families in mourning. Through MoxieMoms, Megan is turning her own heartbreak into a powerful force for change, ensuring that others have the resources and connections she so desperately needed.

Megan's unwavering love for her daughter Penelope and her nine angel babies is a testament to the resilience of a grieving mother’s heart.

MoxieMoms Member & Marketing Director

Chloe Tompkins is a dedicated marketing professional with a passion for creating meaningful connections. In addition to her role as Marketing Director, Chloe specializes in event planning and social media content development, leveraging her creative skills to amplify messages and foster community engagement.

One of Chloe’s core goals is to help family members, friends, and loved ones learn how to show support and love to those navigating loss. Having many people in her life who have experienced grief, Chloe is honored to stand alongside this community of women, offering compassion and understanding as they journey through their grief.

Her work is deeply driven by a commitment to fostering empathy, connection, and healing. Chloe believes that offering love, support, and solidarity can make all the difference for those experiencing loss, and she strives to share this message with others every day.

MoxieMoms Member & ResilieNt Facilitator

Edith brings a wide array of clinical and corporate experience, compassion, and skilled savvy to the board of MoxieMoms. Her focus as a board member is the creation of a community wherein nurses have the resources they need to support families who are experiencing loss, and also receive the necessary support they need to learn, heal, thrive, and succeed. 

Edith’s perspective and leadership is shaped by a career in nursing enhanced by a prior successful career in sales, training, and client services. She brings a natural ability to connect with patients and an innate understanding of the term holistic health. With over 25 years of combined experience, Edith has developed a strong foundation in communication, training, and mentorship, which she now applies to patient and peer relationships in her nursing career. 

As a working Labor & Delivery nurse, Edith is passionate about creating supportive, calming, and encouraging care environments, particularly in a medical field where loss of life can and does occur. She is dedicated to ensuring every patient feels heard and understood and that families, co-workers, and colleagues have access to education, mentoring, and mental health resources and support. 

MoxieMoms Member and Green Space Coordinator

Ashley Lucas is a dedicated and compassionate OBGYN Physician Assistant, mother to 2 living children, loss mom, and NICU warrior. After the birth of their firstborn son an uncomplicated pregnancy, Ashley wanted to expand their family, not knowing the obstacles that lay ahead. They suffered multiple early miscarriages, and in March 2020, Ashley was told their baby no longer had a heartbeat at 23 weeks. Ashley delivered a baby girl stillborn. They named her Rose after seeing her sweet, rosy cheeks and the pink-knitted hat the nurses placed on her head. 

Baby Rose was a devastating loss, and upon discharge, Ashley felt alone. Resources in their small Upper Peninsula town were scarce. Ashley reached out to local grief/support groups but found that none focused on the loss of a baby, miscarriage or stillbirth. Ashley felt the need to share her story, acknowledge her daughter, and support those who have walked this similar path, given how lost she felt after baby Rose. After making a connection with MoxieMoms Founder, Megan Nowicki, it was evident that support was needed in their community. 

Ashley has always had a deep interest and passion for Women's Health. This passion intensified after experiencing multiple miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy, and stillbirth. Ashley joined her local OBGYN practice coincidentally with the forming of MoxieMoms. In addition to her passion for Women's Health and supporting those going through loss or infertility, Ashley has experienced the immense struggle of caring for a micropreemie in the NICU. She delivered her daughter (conceived through IVF) at 23 weeks and 5 days. Her daughter spent 235 days in the NICU, is now home and thriving. Ashley has a deep understanding of the NICU and micropreemie world and is very motivated to support families in the NICU today. Ashley is a MoxieMoms member and Green Space coordinator, managing their Memorial Garden in downtown Marquette. Ashley's love for gardening is deeply rooted in her after watching her mother garden and landscape her entire life. The Memorial garden is a beautiful symbol of life and resilience.

MoxieMoms Member & Assistant Treasurer

Laura is a dedicated and compassionate leader of the rehabilitation team and an occupational therapist at the hospital. She is a wife, a mother of two living children, and a bereaved mother. During her pregnancy with her first child, Avery, she was told at 39 weeks gestation that her baby no longer had a heartbeat.

Following the loss of Avery in 2012, Laura and her husband, Chris, realized there were few resources available for those experiencing such loss. They provided support to other couples within their church community until the initiative was taken over by others. When Laura learned that there was potential for a new support group, she knew she wanted to be involved.

As both a leader in healthcare and a bereaved mother, Laura is deeply committed to helping other families and healthcare professionals navigate this challenging journey. She is honored to be part of such a remarkable group of women who offer support to others—women, partners, families, and the staff who care for those enduring the darkest of times. MoxieMoms has served as a long-awaited source of light and has become the missing piece to providing much-needed support.

MoxieMoms Member & Treasurer

Chessie Sergey serves as the Treasurer of MoxieMoms, where she combines her professional skills with her passion for supporting mothers. Her journey has been shaped by personal experiences, including multiple miscarriages, which have instilled a deep sense of compassion and a commitment to healing. Chessie strives to create a positive impact in the lives of others experiencing loss. 

As a financial analyst, Chessie provides financial expertise to the group. Her tasks include forecasting yearly budgeting, comparison of actual spend vs projected spend, and ad hoc reports to show financial position. 

Chessie was introduced to this incredible organization through a mutual friend and her hope is to enhance resources and foster community amongst those affected. 

Grief Support Nurse & MoxieMoms Member

Jessica is a passionate advocate for supporting families through the difficult journey of grieving fetal and infant loss. As a board member of MoxieMoms, Jessica brings a wealth of empathy, dedication, and personal commitment to helping families find comfort and community.

Outside of her advocacy work, Jessica loves spending time outdoors. Whether it's camping, boating, or gathering around the campfire with family and friends, she finds peace and joy in nature. She also enjoys line dancing, attending concerts, and exploring new places through travel. One of her favorite pastimes is riding with her husband on their side-by-side through the woods, discovering hidden trails, and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.

Jessica is also certified as a Death Doula (grief support) for our community and volunteers at our local hospital and birthing center.

With a heart for service and a spirit for adventure, Jessica is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of families who are navigating their own journeys of loss and healing.

MoxieMoms Member

Alyssa Murray is a compassionate nurse educator and DNP student at Indiana Wesleyan University. Alyssa is also a bereaved mother, having experienced the profound loss of her son Miller at 23 weeks, as well as two earlier miscarriages. These experiences have shaped her passion for supporting families enduring similar heartbreak.

Since Miller’s passing, Alyssa has devoted herself to advocating for bereaved parents, providing resources, and fostering community through MoxieMoms. She is deeply committed to creating meaningful connections and offering guidance to families navigating perinatal loss.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Alyssa finds joy and healing in spending time with her two living children and honoring Miller’s memory through her work and personal life. Her dedication to compassion and advocacy is at the heart of everything she does.