A Craigavon mum – whose baby boy was born at just 33 weeks by emergency caesarean section – is turning her “pain into purpose” to raise awareness and money for a charity that helped her find friendship and healing.
Mum-of-four and neonatal nurse, Michaela Trainor laughed as she recalled finding out she was pregnant with her beautiful surprise blessing, Jarlath when she was 44 years old.
She already had three boys, now aged 19, 17 and 10. Learning she and her husband, Kieran were about to add a fourth to the mix was a bit of a shock, but she now says it was “the best thing to ever happen to us!”
But the road to bringing Jarlath into the world was bumpy to say the least. Michaela describes her pregnancy as “very, very difficult” plagued with blood pressure issues and serious illness as a result.
On May 30, 2025 – a day she and her family will never forget – Jarlath finally arrived… albeit a little too early.
He was just 33 weeks old. Michaela was sent for a “life-saving” emergency caesarean section. They each made it out the other side, but it wasn’t easy and that didn’t change overnight.
Her precious new-born remained in hospital quite unwell for a total of 61 days. And, while she was only around seven minutes from the hospital, Michaela craved every second she could find to hold him in her arms.
Explaining those early days postpartum, she said: “I could nearly feel him when I wasn’t with him. It was very difficult. I was kind of recovering physically and when I was with Jarlath… everything just felt the way it should be and when I was home my arms ached for the baby that was in hospital.
“I coped in the sense of, of course I coped, but all I dreamt of was having all my boys together under one roof.”
Michaela was trying to recover from her caesarean, remain a functional mum to three growing, active boys, manage the reality of life as it came hurtling towards her, do trips to the hospital wherever she could… all the while feeling like no-one else really understood what she was dealing with.
That was until she became involved with TinyLife, Northern Ireland’s only dedicated premature baby charity working to help provide support services both in the Neonatal Unit and in the community.
“I met mummies beside me who have become part of my story now. They are wonderful,” said Michaela of TinyLife’s support. “Our support worker, Janice was heaven-sent to be honest. She was a kind face and was always there but it was more when I was discharged that I felt the support.
“He [Jarlath] had never really been exposed to anyone and developmentally he was behind his peers. But with TinyLife there was baby massage classes and a baby group once a fortnight and you’re in an environment with people who just get it.
“Your baby maybe isn’t sitting upright, but theirs maybe isn’t either and that’s alright! Even as a mummy who has done it four times and as a neonatal nurse, it was still a struggle. I cried every single day. I have to do justice to myself to address how much of a struggle it was.”
Michaela said the women she met through TinyLife have become nothing short of family to her now. Having that support network of other people who don’t just offer well meaning platitudes, but actually understand the reality of life as a preemie parent, can’t be defined.
It brought Michaela sanity, comfort and peace. And the icing on the cake is that it’s completely free to the service users!
Now, as Michaela prepares for her son’s first birthday celebrations, she’s thought up a special way of marking the occasion and giving back to TinyLife at the same time.
On overwhelming days, Michaela took to walking the Craigavon Lakes. She said she would “stick on a podcast, do a few laps and come home again” feeling better prepared to “face things again, because the scary wasn’t as scary”.
It became a therapy and an escape. So now, to tie everything together, she is taking on a walking marathon (26.2 miles) in laps of the lake… all to raise vital funds for the charity that changed her life.
Michaela will commence her laps on Sunday, May 31, doing two or three by herself at 6am.
Later in the day several friends, family and other mums will join her for a few laps to spur her on and show their support.
Her husband Kieran will also join in for one or two, but will definitely be there for her final lap, bringing Jarlath in his buggy to cross the finish line with his doting mum.
Kieran’s role in the entire journey cannot be overstated. He has been Michaela’s rock throughout it all and she notes that while she only had to worry about Jarlath coming home, he was constantly worried about both Michaela and Jarlath.
She stressed that dads just don’t talk about how traumatising it all can be for them too.
Of the importance of raising both money and awareness for the charity, Michaela said: “I don’t want any other mummy to go through what we went through.
“A lot of mummies don’t reach out to TinyLife but the services are there and they are entirely free to the service user.
“It’s just about giving back and acknowledging the support that we got. It’s a lovely feeling and a privilege to do it!”
Fundraising Manager, Madeline Donnelly said of Michaela’s effort: “We are incredibly proud of Michaela for taking on this deeply personal and inspiring challenge.
“Turning her pain into purpose, she is not only honouring her son Jarlath’s journey but also shining a light on the reality so many families face when a baby is born too soon. Her 26.2 mile walk around Craigavon Lakes is a powerful tribute to resilience, love and hope.
“The 61 days Michaela spent walking those same paths during Jarlath’s time in hospital were filled with fear and uncertainty, feelings no parent is ever prepared for. To return now with strength and determination to raise vital funds for TinyLife speaks volumes about her courage and compassion.
“This effort will make a real difference, helping ensure that other families navigating the challenges of premature birth receive the support, care and understanding they need.
“We are truly honoured to support Michaela and wish her every success.”
You can make a contribution to Michaela’s fundraising effort here.
Learn more about TinyLife and their services here.
