The Magic Milk Bike

Breast milk donations can save lives

Laura Johnstone was born at 28 weeks and 5 days back in 1981, when neonatal care was still in its early days. She had a twin brother, Nicholas, who sadly did not survive, and her journey through childhood was shaped by prematurity, hearing loss, and later discovering that she was neurodivergent.

She didn’t learn to read until she was 13, but she never gave up. Her life changed when she became a mum to a premature baby, Amelia. Suddenly, everything she had experienced came full circle – the fear, the love, and the resilience.

Now, she volunteers with Ickle Pickles and helps other families feel less alone. Whether you are in the NICU or navigating neurodiversity, Laura is passionate about bringing real talk, support, and hope to your screen.

Laura has written a beautiful story about how breast milk donations can save lives, and we’re honoured to publish it here.

Did you know it costs £150 to transport and process one litre of donated breast milk to neonatal units? This is why many neonatal units are unable to have their own.

Laura has reached out to all 13 milk banks in the UK, asking for testimonials from parents who have used these banks. Please get in touch if you would like to share your story.

The Magic Milk Bike

By Ickle Pickles Volunteer Laura Johnstone

Not every bike is magic…

But in a cosy little garage tucked behind the hospital, one very special bike sparkled with wonder. Her name was Bella, and she was no ordinary motorbike. She was a Magic Milk Bike.

By day, Bella had a very important job. She was a blood bike—brave and fast, delivering blood, test samples, and emergency supplies to hospitals. She zoomed between labs and wards, helping doctors save lives with every trip. The staff all knew her by name and would wave as she roared off with her box of hope.

But when night fell and the stars twinkled above the city, Bella’s magic truly came alive.

Her wheels shimmered with silver light, and her cooler box glowed gently. That’s when she began her other mission—delivering donor breast milk to the tiniest of babies who needed a little extra help.

Inside her box were bottles filled with care, donated by mums who knew just how important milk could be for a premature or poorly baby.

One of those mums was Ellie. Her baby boy, Harvey, had been born far too soon and was being looked after in the NICU. Ellie had been expressing milk every day—sometimes at home, sometimes beside Harvey’s incubator. Though her heart was heavy and her body tired, she still found the strength to give. One evening, she noticed she had a little more than Harvey needed. So, with a loving smile, she labelled the extra bottle:

“From Ellie, with love.”

Just then, Bella appeared, glowing gently outside her window.

“Thank you,” Bella whispered, her engine humming with happiness. “I know just where this needs to go.”

With a puff of stardust and a purr of her engine, Bella sped off into the night, bottles safely tucked inside her box.

But tonight’s delivery was a little different. One of the babies who needed milk lived in a rural hospital, high on a hill, far beyond Bella’s usual roads. So she zoomed to the hospital helipad, where her friend Hetty the Helicopter was waiting, blades spinning gently in the moonlight.

“Hop up, Bella,” Hetty called cheerfully. “We’ve got milk to fly!”

Together, they soared into the sky, Bella safely strapped in with her precious cargo. Stars sparkled around them as Hetty glided over valleys and rivers, carrying the milk to places where no bike could reach.

When they landed, two doctors in scrubs were waiting. “Perfect timing!” they said as Hetty’s hatch opened and Bella rolled forward.

They gently lifted the milk from Bella’s box and hurried it inside, where a little baby lay waiting in a quiet neonatal ward.

“Thank you,” whispered one nurse, holding the bottle close to her heart. “You’ve helped this little one grow stronger.”

Bella’s wheels sparkled. Hetty’s blades hummed a happy tune. And the sky above seemed to shine just a little brighter.

From blood by day to milk by night, Bella was more than a motorbike.

She was a messenger of life, of care, and of community.

And with her friend Hetty, no baby was ever too far away to be helped.

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Did you know that behind the scenes, real-life heroes like milk bikers and blood bikers work tirelessly to support our NHS—and that breast milk donation can save lives? If this story warmed your heart, please help spread awareness. Let’s celebrate the Ellies, the Bellas, and the Hettys out there making a difference every single day.

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