‘I'M A MUM ON A MISSION!'

Michelle spent 150 nights in Ronald McDonald House and now she’s fundraising for other mothers like her

- BRIGID AUCHETTL

Michelle Carlon stared at her positive pregnancy test in disbelief. After years of fertility struggles Michelle and her husband Michael were stunned to find out she was pregnant with their “miracle” baby.

“When I found out I was pregnant in February 2018, I was shocked and overjoyed... I couldn’t believe the two lines in front of me,” Michelle, 30, tells Woman’s Day from her home in Sydney, NSW.

“It was such a blessing.”

But the family’s life was turned upside down when shortly after the 20-week scan, doctors warned the results showed that their baby, Mason – who they’d affectionately nicknamed Mayo – could be born with a heart defect.

“We were told it looked like there was a little speck on his heart,” recalls Michelle. “But the doctors said it also could just be the outdated technology and it was possible nothing was wrong.”

FEARS FOR MAYO

Three weeks later the couple’s worst fears were realised when a scan at Sydney’s Royal Women’s Hospital confirmed Mayo’s heart wasn’t working properly.

After being told the prognosis was life-threatening to Mayo, doctors gave Michelle the heartbreaking option to terminate her pregnancy.

“I was devastated,” recalls Michelle, through tears. “Michael and I had just had the first interactive moment with the baby, with Michael tapping on my belly and the baby kicking back. We were so excited.