On Friday 9th of May, I had the absolute honour of speaking at the Mercy NICU Mother’s Day Lunch—an unforgettable day filled with love, connection, and deep gratitude.

Sharing our journey with Ashton alongside my good friend Dr Nelu (our wonderful MC) and my new friend Ollie (who spoke so powerfully as a full-term NICU parent) was incredibly special. It was a room full of people who truly understand what it means to walk through the NICU doors—and to never quite leave them behind.

From the phenomenal NICU doctors and nurses to the Mercy Foundation team, hospital leadership, and my fellow Mercy NICU Circle parents, this event was a true collaboration of heart and purpose. It was especially meaningful to have my parents, husband, and daughter there with me—sharing such a special day together made it all the more unforgettable.

"Every tiny heartbeat matters"—words that were born from our very first NICU Circle meeting and carried us through to raising $32,000 for a new Brainz Monitor. I’m so proud of what we achieved together.

And of course, a heartfelt thank you to Mercy for the incredible love and support shown to NICU Cheer. It meant so much to bring so many NICU families and NICU Cheer Squad volunteers into the room—a beautiful reminder of the strength and power of this community.

To the 200 guests who joined us—thank you for showing up for babies, for families, and for this beautiful Mercy family. 💙