Manchester > Dorchester
250 miles
Expecting parents, Naomi and Pete, were enjoying a ‘last treat’ weekend away in Manchester when their daughter, Mollie, arrived 10 weeks early. Mollie was placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester and monitored closely.
The couple were relieved that Mollie was seemingly stable but they were worried about what was going to happen next. They were over 250 miles away from their home in Dorset – they didn’t know where they were going to stay, how long they would need to stay in Manchester, how they would get home to Dorset and unsure of Mollie’s future.
Over the next week as Mollie continued to get stronger, and talk began about how they would all get home. Weighing under 3lb 3oz, Mollie was too fragile to travel the long distance to a hospital closer to home by road ambulance, so Lucy Air Ambulance for Children was asked to fly Mollie by aeroplane. Naomi says:
“We were amazed to find out that the preferred method of transport was to fly her home, due to the distance and her vulnerability. Thankfully the transfer was organised and fully funded by the wonderful Lucy Air Ambulance for Children charity. The relief to hear that we were going home was immense. Although the care we received from every single member of staff was amazing, to be able to be moved to a hospital closer to home and to be in familiar surroundings meant so much to us all, especially knowing that Christmas was around the corner.”
The transfer day arrived and due to the usual respiratory complications associated with a premature birth, Mollie required continuous monitoring during the flight. Being able to move her by aeroplane meant that the duration of travel was shorter and the impact of traffic congestion was alleviated. The transfer was performed by a specialist neonatal flight team.
Naomi accompanied Mollie onboard and was made to feel very at ease. The transfer went smoothly and Mollie was soon settled at Dorchester County Hospital, the closest hospital to their family home that could provide Mollie with the neonatal care she needed.
Being closer to home meant that both Mollie and her parents could get support from family and friends, helping them through this troubling time. Naomi says:
“We wish to thank Lucy Air Ambulance for Children for bringing our special little daughter home. Until you are affected by such an issue you don’t realise that these charitable services are out there and what a crucial and fantastic job they all do.”
Since Mollie’s Lucy AAC transfer, the Macklin family have continued to fundraise for Lucy AAC and support our charity in anyway they can. From company donations to sweepstakes with their colleagues, and being all around incredible ambassadors for our charity, we cannot thank them enough for their continued support!
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