Meet the team

Mirakel is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013, with a commitment to developing innovative programs that provide critical support to families in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), maternity wards, and those facing the tragic loss of a child.

Founded by Pernilla Rönnholm, who co-launched the organization in 2013 and became its sole founder in 2014, Mirakel was born out of Pernilla’s personal experience. After the premature birth of her twins, one of her daughters tragically passed away due to ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae and sepsis while in the NICU.

In recognition of her work supporting parents who have lost a twin or triplet, Pernilla was awarded a scholarship. She has also been invited to speak at various conferences, where she addresses topics such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the emotional journey of losing a child, and how to transform trauma into positive action.

Mirakel’s mission is to create a lasting impact for both present and future families. The organization advocates for the implementation of single-family rooms in NICUs to reduce infection risks. It also leads global initiatives to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance, engaging in media campaigns, collaborating with the European Union, and hosting seminars and webinars to foster broader understanding and action.

Stefan Käshammer

Stefan joined the team in 2024 and is responsible for supporting various tasks related to media marketing, graphic design, and both internal and external communication.

With extensive experience in PR and Marketing Communications, Stefan previously worked at BTC Consumer Goods and BTB Tech-Tools, where he contributed across all aspects of the field. He is now expanding his expertise within the healthcare sector.

Vanessa Carter

Vanessa became an AMR patient advocate in 2013 after surviving a serious car accident and 10-year facial reconstruction that caused a highly-resistant MRSA infection on her face. 

She was a patient advisor to several organisations including CIDRAP (USA) and served for three years as a member of the WHO Strategic Technical Advisory Group on AMR (STAG-AMR) between 2020 – 2023. She currently serves as a lay member to the Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Prescribing, Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection, UK (APRHAI) and is a civil society champion at the Africa CDC. Vanessa is also currently Chair of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors.

She has won awards for her advocacy including a Woman of Stature (WOS) Woman of the Year Award, FINDdx Voices for Diagnostics Award, and Antibiotic Guardian Award in the Community Communications category organised by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). She further was awarded an e-Patient Scholarship at Stanford University Medicine X in the USA.

With a professional background in marketing, Vanessa has also lectured on various topics including effective communication and infodemic management in relation to AMR, and completed training by the WHO in 2020.

She has also advocated the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement. Originally from South Africa, she now resides in the UK and has worked globally.

Vanessa was also the founder and currently serves as an Executive Director for The AMR Narrative.