"The Lia’s Wings Team texted me every day... Those little texts allowed me to breathe."

When four-month-old Adam was critically injured on the last day of the family’s holiday in Italy, his mother Oana was suddenly alone in a foreign hospital while her husband, Bogdan, and young son, Dominic, had to return to the UK. This was a huge shock to the whole family, as due to the injuries Adam sustained, the Doctors informed Adam’s parents that he probably would never be able to walk.

On top of the emotional trauma of the accident and having to cope with what felt like a devastating life-changing situation, Oana was told by the hospital in Italy that she would need to arrange safe medical transport for Adam back to the UK, as well as the appropriate hospital admission for his ongoing care. “I was just looking everywhere, getting quotes, trying to find hospitals. I didn’t know which way to go,” she says. “I was preoccupied and not focusing fully on Adam, sitting by his bedside searching on the internet and panicking as I couldn’t find any answers”. And then she had a breakthrough, “I found Lia’s Wings and emailed quite late at night because I couldn’t sleep, and at 6am Lia’s Wings replied instantly with a phone number… Getting an answer straight away was such a relief. They told me there’s nothing I need to worry about and that they would take care of everything. It almost seemed too good to be true, but it was true. That's exactly what they did.”

From that moment, Lia’s Wings stayed beside her. “The Lia’s Wings Team texted me every day. Little updates just to reassure me that things were moving forward. That let me focus on Adam because he was still in hospital, quite critical. Those little texts allowed me to breathe.”

When an infection delayed Adam’s first planned transfer, the Lia’s Wings Team immediately adapted, reassuring Oana that they would bring him home as soon as he was stable enough to fly. Their daily communication continued to give her strength while she waited.

The flight home

As soon as Adam was stable enough to travel, Lia’s Wings worked with their partner, SkyCare, to arrange an air ambulance transfer from Italy back to the UK, with Dr Lee and Flight Nurse, Iva, as the medical flight team who would be caring for Adam. The flight was carefully planned; an in-depth understanding of Adam’s condition ensured that all arrangements for his care could be prepared for. The team were also there to support Oana.

“When they arrived at the hospital they looked like angels, even just hearing them speak English felt like home,” Oana recalls. “They hugged me and just took over.”

As Oana, Adam and the Lia’s Wings medical team left the hospital by road ambulance, an emotional moment unfolded at a local protest: “There were thousands of people. They created a path for the ambulance to go, and they all started clapping and cheering for Adam.”

As they flew home, Storm Amy was sweeping across Europe, but the Lia’s Wings Team remained calm and reassuring, supporting Oana and Adam through the turbulent journey. Oana recalls, “The flight wasn’t ideal because we went through a storm and I’m not a great flyer, but they held my hand, they sang a song with me. These little things made such a difference. It wasn’t just the transfer. It was also taking care of me and Adam.”

Coming home

Relief came almost instantly. Oana had desperately missed her eldest son, and Adam’s dad, had desperately missed Adam. Oana had felt lonely and on her own in Italy. She had kept a vigil by his bedside, but now she had the support of her husband. After five long weeks apart, the family were finally reunited. “Just hugging Dominic gave me more strength,” Oana says. “He [Dominic] came to the hospital that very night and stayed until midnight with me and Adam. He couldn’t believe that his Mum was back… We’re back like a normal family again… even if we’re all suffering, at least we’re together now… You brought us together.”

Oana also felt more confident in his care. “Since we arrived here, everything is far better,” Oana explained. “They measure his urine based on his weight… It’s more precise. He's not on antibiotics or any blood pressure medication anymore…. His blood pressure was normal since we got on the plane.” 

Oana was also so relieved to hear that the NHS will now provide all of Adam’s medical supplies. “I was looking for where to buy catheters, but they [UK hospital team] said the NHS is taking care of that, and we will order them to your house. Amazing.”

Gratitude to Lia’s Wings

“I was so overwhelmed with how many things I had to do [in Italy],” Oana admits. “I was always doing other things to try and help instead of staying with him. So I don’t think I could have done it without you… I don’t think I could have focused just on him.”

“You knew how I was actually feeling. You said it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to cry. And just a little check-in every day. That was, for me, the most important thing.”

“I just want to tell other families, it is real,” Oana says. “They are doing these amazing things. I wasn’t used to people helping me… But you’re still here, still caring about us.”

Your impact

Because of Lia’s Wings supporters, Adam was able to access the specialist spinal rehabilitation he urgently needed back under NHS care. The transfer reunited his family after five long weeks apart and ensured he could receive the best medical care for his new complex needs.

Now, Adam is receiving ongoing rehabilitation and specialist support from the NHS team in Bristol. His condition is more stable, his treatment is carefully managed, and he’s surrounded by his family as they adjust to life back home together.

“You brought us together… Everything works better. Adam’s better.”