A two-day trip that became an 80-day hospital stay

“After years of fertility struggles, pregnancy losses, IVF and losing our little boy, we feel like we've been given a golden ticket by Lia’s Wings.”

What began as a magical two-day trip to Disneyland Paris for expectant parents, Robyn and Darren, who were travelling with their 5-year-old daughter, changed forever when their twins were born extremely prematurely at just 23 + 3 weeks gestation (more than four months early).

Instead of returning home after a quick trip away, the family faced an unexpected 80-day stay in a neonatal unit in Paris, navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system far from their support network. During this time, the unimaginable happened: one of their twins passed away. Following a long and difficult fertility journey, this brought intense sadness.

Susannah was born four months early while her parents were on holiday in Paris.

With Susannah critically fragile, needing intensive care and facing an extended hospital stay, Robyn and Darren made the heartbreaking decision for their older daughter to be cared for by family at home, while they remained in Paris by Susannah’s side. Separated from their child and support network, and coping with the instability of Susannah’s condition, they were exhausted yet determined to do all they could to cope.

Weeks passed by as they navigated the highs and lows of Susannah’s neonatal journey. Both Robyn and Darren couldn’t think beyond each immediate moment. It seemed impossible to plan ahead, to tempt fate. They took each day as it came and focused fully on Susannah, whilst taking turns to go back to Dublin to spend time with their 5-year-old daughter when they could.  

As time passed, Susannah made steady progress and grew stronger and stronger each day.

Help to get home when they needed it most

Finally, Susannah was over some of her hardest challenges and was more stable. It was time to think about going home. To both Susannah and Darren, this was a huge hurdle. They had no idea how they would get Susannah home, and Susannah’s medical team didn’t know either. Stuck with this problem and desperate for a solution, Robyn sat up late one night googling questions, trying to find answers. It is here that she found Lia’s Wings. Finally, some hope! Robyn spent most of the night reading other families' stories about how their premature baby had been brought home by Lia’s Wings from abroad. She felt inspired and encouraged by the bravery of all the families who had walked this path before her. It was then that she contacted Lia’s Wings, and within hours, Lia’s Wings was in touch, and very soon after this, plans started to be made for Susannah’s air ambulance transfer from Paris to Dublin.

Susannah flew from Paris to Dublin in a mobile incubator, supported by our medical team and specialist equipment, with her parents by her side.

Susannah was on CPAP respiratory support to assist her breathing and was still very small, so an air ambulance transfer was essential to bring her home safely. With Christmas around the corner, it was agreed that the transfer should happen quickly to reunite the whole family for Christmas. In fact, it was 4 days later that Susannah’s transfer would happen. The family were overjoyed, if not stunned, to know that this would be possible!

It gave Lia’s Wings huge joy to know they were bringing Susannah home to have her first Christmas in Ireland, and to know that the whole family would be together at this time of year. In addition, Lia’s Wings was able to ensure that both parents travelled with Susannah, a wonderful first for our air ambulance transfers! By using Skycare’s G-MEDY aircraft, both parents could travel, and for Robyn and Darren, being together during this time meant everything.

Susannah arrived safely in Dublin and continued her care surrounded by familiar faces and a healthcare system closer to home. Slowly and steadily, she continued to grow stronger.

Susannah’s parents travelled with her on the Skycare G-MEDY aircraft, marking a first for our air ambulance transfers and allowing the family to remain together when it mattered most.

Together

Robyn and Darren were finally able to breathe. They said:

“Thank you for everything you've done for us. Trying to stay cool, calm and collected here, but really it feels like the start of us being able to enjoy our life as a family of four. After years of fertility struggles, pregnancy losses, IVF and losing our little boy, we feel like we've been given a golden ticket by Lia’s Wings. We can never thank you enough.”

Susannah continues to make encouraging progress, with doctors carefully taking things step by step due to how premature she was. The family even shared a special milestone together over Christmas.

“We’re all doing really well here! Susannah is progressing nicely, and the doctors are very happy. We’re probably another week or two away from getting her home, but everything’s going in the right direction. We had a lovely Christmas too, thanks to you and your team. Our older daughter got to come in on Christmas morning, so we were all together.”

Susannah is making encouraging progress now that she's being cared for at hospital closer to home.

Your Impact

Because of Lia’s Wings supporters, Robyn and Darren were able to bring Susannah home to Ireland to receive the specialist neonatal care she urgently needed, closer to family, familiarity, and vital support networks. The transfer kept the family together during an incredibly difficult time and ensured that no parent was left behind as they navigated grief and uncertainty together.

Now, Susannah is continuing her care in Dublin under a specialist neonatal team. She is progressing steadily, her treatment is carefully managed, and her parents are finally able to be by her side as they take each step toward bringing her home.

“It feels like the start of us being able to enjoy our life as a family again.”