Care OutLoud

Healing After the NICU with Psychologist & Miracle Moon Founder, Frankie Harrison

In this deeply human and heartfelt episode, Mary sits down with clinical psychologist and NICU parent Frankie Harrison, founder of Miracle Moon, a global online support community for families navigating life after neonatal care. Frankie shares her powerful personal journey—from a traumatic pregnancy marked by preeclampsia, to a six-week NICU stay, to the emotional aftermath that reshaped not only her identity as a parent, but her entire professional path. Together, Mary and Frankie explore: * What it means to experience trauma before, during, and after the NICU * Why so many parents don’t realize they’re experiencing trauma until long after discharge * How anxiety, hypervigilance, dissociation, and grief often hide beneath the surface * The cultural and clinical barriers that make parents feel unseen, dismissed, or “palmed off” * The healing power of community, validation, and meaningful attunement * The critical need for clinician training, nervous-system literacy, and emotionally attuned care * Why support shouldn’t end at NICU discharge—and what true post-NICU “rehab” might look like Frankie also shares the evolution of Miracle Moon—from an Instagram page to a global community providing trauma-informed resources, peer support, and evidence-based guidance for the long arc of healing that follows neonatal care. This conversation is a profound reminder that trauma-informed developmental care is not only for babies—it’s for parents, clinicians, and entire systems. And that healing happens in connection. * NICU trauma as both a psychological and physiological experience * Dissociation, survival mode, and why parents often can’t “take things in” while hospitalized * The overlooked emotional labor of clinicians * Shame reduction through validation and shared experience * The need for rupture-and-repair in healthcare relationships * Why birthdays, transitions, and milestones often retrigger trauma * Strategies for rehumanizing clinical spaces * How community care can become a lifeline Frankie Harrison, CPsychol, is a UK-based clinical psychologist and founder of Miracle Moon, a groundbreaking online community providing trauma-informed support for NICU families worldwide. After her own traumatic pregnancy and NICU journey, Frankie transformed her career to focus exclusively on neonatal trauma, parent mental health, and nervous system healing. Miracle Moon offers resources, videos, community spaces, and evidence-based guidance for families navigating life during and long after the NICU. Important Links: * Miracle Moon: https://www.miraclemoon.co.uk⁠ [https://www.miraclemoon.co.uk/] * Follow Frankie on Instagram: @miraclemoonuk  [@miraclemoonuk  ] * Podcast: https://www.miraclemoon.co.uk/podcast [https://www.miraclemoon.co.uk/podcast] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankie-harrison-701b2054/] * Learn more about Trauma-Informed Developmental Care [https://caringessentials.net/tip2-2026] If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a NICU parent, clinician, or advocate who could use the validation and support. And don’t forget to rate and review the podcast—it helps amplify trauma-informed conversations that change lives.

From Rollercoasters to Carousels: Transforming Trauma into Healing

In this deeply moving episode of Care OUTLOUD, Mary sits down with Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez—author of From Rollercoasters to Carousels—for a heartfelt exploration of trauma, healing, and the transformative power of human connection. Gigi shares her journey through profound loss, her time in the NICU as a parent, and how those experiences inspired her to write a book that offers both solace and guidance for families and clinicians alike. Together, Mary and Gigi unpack what it means to “care out loud” in the face of suffering—to bring compassion and humanity into systems too often driven by data and efficiency. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply, and to remember that healing is not linear—it’s a lifelong dance between grief and grace, between breaking and becoming. Highlights include: * The emotional realities of NICU life and how trauma manifests in silence. * The invisible load families—and clinicians—carry long after discharge. * How biases and systemic inequities shape the caregiving experience. * The intersection of compassion, presence, and advocacy in trauma-informed care. * Gigi’s insight that “compassion first, wisdom second” opens the door to true healing. About Gigi: Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez is an occupational therapist, leadership and organizational wellness coach, and the author of From Rollercoasters to Carousels: A Journey Through the Emotions of the NICU and Beyond. Her work centers on emotional wellness, equity, and the universal experience of healing. Resources Mentioned: * From Rollercoasters to Carousels [https://familiesblossoming.com/author/] (available wherever books are sold) * Gigi’s website: https://familiesblossoming.com/ [https://familiesblossoming.com/] Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review.

Frontiers of Humanity — Episode 1: The Las Frontier is US

We’ve been told the age of frontiers is over. The land has been mapped, the oceans charted, the digital frontier coded into our lives. But what if the greatest frontier has been here all along—not out there in unexplored territory, but in us? In this first episode of Frontiers of Humanity, Mary Coughlin invites you to consider a radical shift: that the next great frontier isn’t about conquest, invention, or expansion. It’s about courage, presence, and rehumanization. Mary reflects on the history of frontiers as spaces of extraction and conquest, and contrasts that with a new possibility: a frontier rooted in care, belonging, and collective flourishing. What you’ll hear in this episode: * Why the old frontier model—expansion at all costs—is no longer sustainable * How the real work of progress is expanding what it means to be human together * Why care, belonging, and justice are not side issues but frontiers in their own right * An invitation to reflect on your own role in crossing the frontier of humanity Check out her blog post on this topic HERE [https://caringessentials.net/post/the-last-frontier-is-us-reimagining-humanity-beyond-expansion] Reflection Prompt:Where do you see the frontier of humanity opening in your own life or work? Subscribe & Share:If this episode stirred something in you, share it with someone who’s also searching for a new way forward. And stay tuned for future episodes where we’ll explore the frontiers of care, belonging, healing, and democracy.

Hidden Vulnerabilities and Human Resilience: A Conversation with Prof. Dieter Wolke

In this powerful episode of Care OutLoud, Mary sits down with Professor Dieter Wolke [https://www.dieterwolke.com/], a pioneering developmental psychologist whose research has shaped our understanding of prematurity and its lifelong impact. Professor Wolke reflects on his early work in the 1980s, when he challenged the medical community to consider the NICU environment not just as a site of survival, but as a place where sound, light, and human connection profoundly shape infants’ futures. From there, he shares insights drawn from decades of longitudinal studies—including the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, now following participants into their late 30s. Together, Mary and Professor Wolke explore: * The origins of developmental care in the NICU and why environment matters. * The concept of a “preterm phenotype”—hidden vulnerabilities that may not show up in standard follow-up, but shape social integration and well-being. * How parental trauma and overprotection can echo across a child’s life. * Why prematurity is not destiny—and how parenting, school support, and peer relationships can alter life trajectories. * The urgent need for extended follow-up, case management, and societal investment beyond NICU discharge. This conversation is both grounding and inspiring—a reminder that small moments of care, advocacy, and support can change life courses. Interesting Links: 1. Barda et al. (2025). The impact of socio-environmental factors on brain structure over the early life course of preterm-born individuals - A systematic review  [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763425000612] 2. Stegmann-Woessner et al. (2025). Forever premature: Adults born preterm and their life challenges  [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378378225000581#:~:text=Known%20challenges,7%2C27%2C28%5D.] 1. Wolke et al. (2019). The Life Course Consequences of Very Preterm Birth [https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-devpsych-121318-084804]

The Heart of it All - Episode 6: We Are The Future

CARE OUTLOUD: The Heart of It All – Final Episode This final episode is both a love letter and a challenge—to see ourselves as healers, citizens, and co-creators of the future. Mary reflects on the REIMAGINE vision, The People’s Declaration, and what it means to leave a legacy of care and courage. Because we are the ancestors of tomorrow—and the future is being written now. Want to go deeper? If this series has stirred something in you, consider becoming a Trauma-Informed Professional (TIP). TIP 2.0 is a transformative certification program that weaves science, soul, and skill to help you lead change—at the bedside, in your community, and in the world. * Learn more or enroll HERE [https://www.caringessentials.net/tip-certificate-program] * Download the reflection guide [https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/j2VOcF7v8sNKN8At3MwQ/media/6899b63a5cdebf77357f07fb.pdf]