This month will see the launch of a new initiative for families of sick babies and children being evacuated to seek urgent medical care overseas. Evacuation kits will be provided to the parents or guardians of evacuees in order to provide practical help and support in their time of need.

The kits were designed by Rich & Maya Lewis, whose son Leo was evacuated when he was just 3-days old, to give families access to medical resources unavailable here in the Cayman Islands. Drawing on their own experiences, the items in the pack have been curated to make an ordeal that no parent ever wants to endure, that little bit easier to cope with.

“Finding out that your child is so sick that you need to leave the country in a matter of hours is incredibly upsetting. It’s a situation no parent ever wants to find themselves in” Maya Lewis explained. “In a short space of time you have to pack and think of everything you might need to live in another country for an undefined period of time. It’s terrifying.”

With that in mind, the kit contains some basic essentials, as well as, a packing list and a hand-written letter of support from the founders. “We just want people to know that they’re not alone, to stay strong and that we understand what they’re going through.”  

The couple applauded British Caymanian Insurance Company Limited (BritCay) for ensuring that their own evacuation process went smoothly. “We were pretty confident that our policy would cover all of the costs of the evacuation and Leo would be able to get the medical help he needed, at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals in Miami,” Lewis continued.

Both parents are now thrilled to have partnered with the insurer to offer this additional level of support.

“When we heard Rich and Maya’s story we were immediately moved to assist,” said BritCay Health Manager Lamar Haynes. “This is a wonderful initiative and we’re happy to put our support behind it. While no parent wishes to face what Maya and Rich did, we hope this will help remove some of the stress involved for those who unavoidably find that they need evacuation services.”

The packs will be available to all families of babies and infants facing evacuation from the Cayman Islands Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and PaediatricUnit from August, regardless of insurer. They will contain a hand-written card from Leo’s parents; a packing list; a USB charging extension cord; a note pad and pens; basic toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner & face wipes); $100 Uber eats voucher; water bottle; granola bars and a tote bag.