A mum of premature triplets has praised hospital and charity staff who helped her and her family through a “nightmare” year.

This Sunday will be Michelle Green’s first Mothers’ Day.

But while other mums around the country will be enjoying the chance to relax, Mrs Green said she won’t be able to celebrate properly until her family is united.

The 42-year-old and husband Terry, 44, welcomed sons Aaron, Bailey and Samuel into the world last August at Medway Maritime Hospital.

“I didn’t get to come home from hospital with my babies. I’ve had to split my life between home and hospital" - Mrs Green

Born prematurely just 23 weeks into Mrs Green’s pregnancy, all three needed to stay in hospital.

But while Bailey and Samuel have since made a good recovery and are at home with mum and dad, Aaron suffered further complications and has not yet been able to leave hospital.

He is currently being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, but is making a good recovery from his latest surgery.

“Being a mum is not what I thought it was going to be,” said Mrs Green, of Parkfield Road, Rainham.

“I didn’t get to come home from hospital with my babies. I’ve had to split my life between home and hospital.

“On Mother’s Day I’ll be torn between two places.

“We’re probably going to have to split it – to spend some time with the boys and then go to see Aaron.

“If we can get him back for his first birthday that would be amazing.

“It’s been a nightmare, and in all honesty I can’t fully enjoy being mum because I’m still going up there worrying about him" - Mrs Green

“It’s been a very long journey.”

Nevertheless, Mrs Green said it would have been a lot tougher without the help of hospital staff, including those at the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit in Medway, and at Ronald McDonald House Camberwell, which provided a free “home away from home” while Aaron and Bailey were treated at King’s College Hospital in London.

“All three were in the Oliver Fisher unit at first,” said Mrs Green. “They needed 24-hour care – they wouldn’t be here without the Oliver Fisher unit.

“The people at Ronald McDonald were very good, too. They’re very caring and are genuinely interested in you and how your family are getting on.

“It was a worrying time because Aaron was very sick but it’s a very nice place and very homely.

“It’s one less thing to worry about – you didn’t mind being there.”

Formerly an expatriate tax manager in the City, Mrs Green has no idea if and when she will return to work, and is focusing on short-term goals.

“It’s been a nightmare, and in all honesty I can’t fully enjoy being mum because I’m still going up there worrying about him.

“It’s really hard emotionally having to leave Aaron up there.

“My goal is to get Aaron home so we can be together as a family and we’ll take it from there.”