Carter’s medical escort flight from Crete to the UK for specialist care
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
Carter’s journey began in unexpected circumstances. Born seven weeks early while his parents were on holiday in Santorini, he arrived far from the neonatal care he urgently needed and was airlifted to Crete shortly after birth.
To ensure he received the care he needed, we provided a medical escort flight from Crete to the UK with a specialist neonatal team, safely reuniting him and his family with support at home.
This is Carter’s story, told by his mum, Jenni.
After finding ourselves in an unprecedented situation whilst we were on holiday in Santorini, Greece, Lia’s Wings enabled and supported us to come home.
Our beautiful baby boy, Carter, was born very unexpectedly whilst we were enjoying our last holiday before we became parents. Carter made a very dramatic entrance into the world at 33 weeks, the day after my birthday, in August 2024. My husband and I were separated immediately after, as our son was airlifted by Army aircraft to a neighbouring island, Crete, to ensure Carter got the support and neonatal care he needed, as Santorini, surprisingly, doesn't have a neonatal care unit. At this point, both my husband and I were on different islands, and we were unsure what our next steps were, other than getting me to my son in Crete and us home as a family.
Our local hospital and support network back in the UK put us in touch with Lia’s Wings due to the offering that they can provide. Before I had even realised what was going on, a WhatsApp group was set up, and the engagement and support were in our hands.
Lia’s Wings were professional, compassionate and supportive every single step of the way. Nothing was too much trouble, and there was never a time that they weren't on the end of the phone. Lia’s Wings flew two neonatal nurses out from the UK to Crete, to enable the three of us to travel home safely. They had clothes, blankets and more importantly, all the medical equipment Carter needed to ensure a safe flight and transfer back to the UK. Once my husband and I had navigated through the most challenging and complex situation around birth registration, translated documents and an emergency passport, Lia’s Wings were more than accommodating to ensure they were ready for us. The team had flown another family home safely from another European country the day before. There was no stopping them from coming to save us, which is what it felt like for us.
The impact on us was both physical and mental. Nobody wants to start their maternity leave and new family life in a foreign country with nothing around you and no support. They knew the importance of getting us home. They arranged a seamless transition from the doctors and neonatal experts in Greece, back to the neonatal teams in the UK. They supported the whole process of documenting the condition of Carter and his requirements and needs.
Returning home was one of the most incredible experiences and days of my life. As Lia’s Wings came equipped with a car seat and stroller, to ensure we could safely transport our most precious cargo home, we were supported every step of the way. We were all working as a team and ensured we were safely on the plane and had enough space for us to sit as a family, and had the neonatal nurses next to us if we needed them. The plane journey was seamless and went by so fast. From the nurses checking Carter’s stats to also ensuring Mum and Dad were ok. It’s quite nerve-racking taking a 7-week-old baby on a flight before, when your baby had never even been home yet!
Being home felt like a dream. Walking into our home with our new baby was such an emotional whirlwind. We couldn’t have done it without the incredible team both in the air, on the ground and behind the scenes. They are an incredible charity that can really support you when you are in need, and there is no other way of being able to get home in a crisis situation. We will be forever grateful for them all and often raise awareness of what they do.
Carter is now nearly 19 months old and the most kind and incredible little boy. He is thriving and loves being outside and exploring the beautiful countryside and farm animals we live amongst. One day, he will understand the start he had in life and the incredible strength that both of us had to get us home.
It’s heartening to write how Lia’s Wings stepped in. Not just as a transport service, but as a bridge back to our support system.
