Every episode of Moment and the Echo begins with a single life-changing moment. Our first guest, Michelle Mullarkey, knows that moment intimately. It was a phone call when her daughter, Scarlett, was just three months old that changed the rhythm of her family’s world forever.
The Unremarkable Before
Before Cystic Fibrosis (CF) entered their world, Michelle describes herself as a “normal mum of one” living a life of work, school clubs, and family. Her pregnancy with Scarlett was medically “unremarkable,” and there were no early warnings or triggers.
However, within days of birth, the signs began to appear. Scarlett struggled to gain weight, and Michelle faced the pressure of being told the issue was her breastfeeding or diet. It wasn’t until a vigilant health visitor noticed how pale Scarlett was that the journey toward a diagnosis truly began.
The Punch to the Stomach
The diagnosis didn’t come in a doctor’s office, but over a phone call. Michelle describes it as a physical “punch to the stomach“. Suddenly, “unremarkable” was replaced by a bombardment of information about genetics, pancreatic enzymes, and a quiet responsibility that never switches off.
Michelle and her partner, Michael, learned they were both carriers of the CF gene. When both parents are carriers, there is a one-in-four chance of a child inheriting the condition. For Scarlett, this meant a lifetime of managing how fluid and mucus move through her body.
The Logistics of Love
In the years that followed, parenting became an exercise in logistics. Michelle’s days were—and still are—governed by:
- Medical Routines: Managing carrier bags of medication and twice-daily chest physiotherapy.
- Nutritional Calculations: Calculating the fat content of every meal to determine the correct dose of enzymes (Creon) Scarlett needs to digest food.
- Constant Vigilance: A “Jiminy Cricket” voice in the back of the mind that never lets her forget the presence of CF.
Team Scarlett is Back
Michelle channeled the feeling of “needing to do something” into fundraising. Despite calling herself a “plodder,” she has run multiple marathons—once even completing two in a single week—and climbed Ben Nevis to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
After a break to protect Scarlett’s privacy as she grew up, Michelle shared the exciting news that Team Scarlett is officially back. Scarlett and her sister Charlie are preparing to take on the Brighton Marathon this April. While fundraising links will be shared in due course, the spirit of the team is stronger than ever.
Understanding CF
If you are unfamiliar with the condition or would like to learn more about how it affects thousands of families across the UK, you can find detailed information via the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Listen to Michelle’s full story on Episode 01 of Moment and the Echo, available now on Spotify and YouTube.
Leave a Reply