Dr Stephan Klose: Most often, we are called when something has already happened. An accident. An acute illness. A holiday comes to an abrupt end, and what follows is a medically supervised journey home. That is why it is particularly rewarding when we are not helping to end a trip, but making it possible in the first place. As in the case of eleven-year-old Mathilde.

A family's dream of travelling together
At just eleven years old, Mathilde has already faced more challenges than many adults. A brain haemorrhage caused by her premature birth led to epilepsy with severe and persistent seizures, which repeatedly required emergency medical treatment. In addition, she suffered from a serious kidney disease. For years, she depended on dialysis until her father, Athos, donated a kidney to her.

The family's dream of finally flying together was strong. At the same time, Mathilde's parents worried that she might suffer a severe seizure during the flight. They therefore looked for a way to travel with professional medical support.

That is how our team received an enquiry through the Lufthansa Group and AMTRAS aeromed's joint service for medically accompanied air travel.

London calling! But first, the cockpit
Together, we reviewed the available medical records, sought specialist assessments from Mathilde's treating physicians, and evaluated the specific requirements of the journey. After careful preparation, a plan was put in place: I would accompany Mathilde and her family as a flight physician from check-in in Zurich to baggage claim in London, with medical equipment on hand should it be needed. The SWISS Medical Service also approved the arrangement, and with that, nothing stood in the way of the journey.

The evening before departure, I travelled from Frankfurt to Zurich. We met for the first time at an airport hotel. Instead of an anxious young patient, I met a cheerful, open and curious eleven-year-old whose greatest wish was finally to board an aircraft.

The next day, that wish came true. The SWISS crew took plenty of time for Mathilde and even arranged a visit to the cockpit, complete with photos. Shortly afterwards, it was time for London calling!

The flight unfolded exactly as we had all hoped. Calm, relaxed and without any medical incidents. The family was able to travel together while I remained nearby, discreetly in the background. The medical equipment and emergency medication we had brought along stayed packed away throughout the flight. They were there, ready if needed. Fortunately, they were not required.

“All of London knows that Mathilde flew”
Mathilde and her parents spent a wonderful week in sunny London. A few days later, I met the family again at Heathrow Airport and had the privilege of accompanying them on the return flight as well.

During their stay, the family explored far more than just the city's famous sights. "All of London knows that Mathilde flew," her mother Kathrin joked with a smile.

After our farewell photo in Zurich, routine medical check-ups resumed the very next day. But alongside them emerged a brand-new question: Where should the next trip take them?

Safety is the real service
Medical flight accompaniment does not always mean intervening during a flight. Often, the most important work takes place long before take-off. It involves carefully assessing risks, preparing the journey medically and logistically, and giving patients and their families the reassurance that they are not alone should something happen.

One comment from Kathrin and Athos has stayed with me ever since:

For Mathilde, a long-held dream became reality. For us, it was an assignment that clearly demonstrated the value of medical flight accompaniment. It helps people reach their destination safely, but it also enables journeys that might otherwise never have taken place. And in doing so, it creates new memories and enhances quality of life.