Sarah flies home to receive intensive care
Switzerland Zurich Children's Hospital PICU
Wexham Park Hospital, Slough UK
565 miles
Meet Sarah, she was on holiday in Switzerland with her family when she caught an infection and ended up being admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Zurich Children's Hospital.
She has congenital hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain at birth). This was considered a prior condition and so her travel insurer could not fly her back to the UK. The only way she could safely travel home was with Lia's Wings.
Lia’s Wings flew Sarah 565 miles from Zurich Children's Hospitals to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough. We are so happy to be able to share the news that she was discharged home less than a week after she returned to the UK! We are so thankful to the amazing medical team and our supporters for enabling us to facilitate this brilliant outcome for Sarah and her family.
Ricardo, Sarah's dad says:
"Words cannot express our gratitude to Lia's Wings for their incredible support in arranging an air ambulance to bring our daughter back from hospital in Zurich to a PICU near our home in the UK. Their funding and meticulous organisation made a world of difference in ensuring Sarah’s safe journey back home. We are immensely thankful for the entire team. It all began with Dr Lee returning my phone call, clarifying all my doubts and being very proactive in ensuring the best outcome for Sarah. Then Dr Anna and Charlotte managed all the coordination with Sarah’s doctor in the UK and secured a PICU bed near our home upon her arrival. Everything seemed too good to believe, but surprisingly it was all real.
Sarah is a sweet four-year-old girl with special needs who developed respiratory failure due to a viral infection she caught while in Switzerland. The infection also triggered her dystonia, which prolonged her hospital stay. Prior to her repatriation, Sarah spent some days in the hospital, and after discharge was not able to take a commercial flight as she needed more time to fully recover. Sarah has a little sister, Lisa, and as parents we were torn between taking care of our two little girls. We cannot imagine what we would have done without the support of Lia’s Wings.
In moments of crisis, we realise the immense value of people with good intentions who are there for others in moments of extreme need. This was a life-changing experience, and we will be forever grateful."
