News Release

Seth and his family flew from Multiflight at Leeds Bradford Airport to Palma on Multiflight's Citation Excel jet.

Multiflight flies four-month-old baby and his parents home after life-changing operation at Leeds hospital

When private Yorkshire aviation company Multiflight received a request from a mother to fly her four-month-old baby home to Palma, Majorca, after potentially life-changing surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, the company agreed to help. Mother Justine Murphy wrote to Multiflight with the support of the Erb's Palsy Group, the UK-based organisation supporting families affected by Erb's Palsy, requesting the company's help following nerve graft surgery on her four-month-old baby son Seth.

Seth has severe Right Erb's Palsy, affecting the movement, sensation and function of his right shoulder arm and hand. This condition is likely to be life-long in Seth's case and will leave him with a significant deficit in the functional use of his right arm. Seth's care was transferred from Majorca where the family live, to a specialist centre in Leeds. Following an assessment in September he was booked in for urgent nerve graft surgery on Monday, October 7th. It was deemed imperative that this surgery was undertaken as soon as possible in order that some function might return to Seth's arm.

“After surgery he will be in a lot of pain, and we need to keep him flat and as comfortable as possible,” Justine wrote in a letter to Multiflight.

“This means being able to have him laid in his cot opposed to causing him discomfort in our arms on a commercial flight, or even being strapped into a car seat which just won't be viable as his top half must stay rigid as not to affect the work that will have been done with his nerve graft. He will also be tender as his legs will be strapped up from where they remove the spare nerves from.”

Karen Hillyer, chairman of the Erb's Palsy Group, said in support: “Seth will have considerable strapping round his head, neck, arm and body in order to immobilise his shoulder and arm movement in order not to put any undue strain on the graft site rendering the six-hour surgery a waste of time.”

She added: “A good nerve graft surgery at this age would mean that Seth has a chance at a fairly normal life, with some measure of independence throughout his life, the surgery is very time limited and so does not afford the family time to save up for fares and as this will be the second time in a three-week period they have had to pay for travel costs, you can imagine that this will cause some hardship for this lovely family.”

Miles Beecham, Multiflight director, said: “We were moved by Seth's story and wanted to help if we possibly could. We are delighted that we were able to accommodate the family's needs and assist in giving baby Seth the best possible chance of recovery after his long operation.”

The family flew from Multiflight at Leeds Bradford Airport to Palma on Multiflight's Citation Excel jet. The jet is available for private charter through the worldwide charter and management company Bookajet.

When Justine was told that Multiflight would help with a return flight to Palma after the operation, she said: “I can't tell you what an immense relief it is. I have contacted so many people and companies on the promise of hearing back and nothing. I am smiling for the first time since having the news; my heart is smiling too.”

Erb's Palsy, also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis, is a condition which mainly due to birth trauma, can affect one or all of the five primary nerves that supply the movement and feeling to an arm. Each baby's injury is individual. The paralysis can be partial or complete; the damage to each nerve can range from bruising to tearing. Some babies recover on their own however some may require specialist intervention.

The Erb's Palsy Group is the only UK-based organisation offering advice, information and support to families affected by Erb's Palsy. For more details about the group go to its website at www.erbspalsygroup.co.uk