More than a thousand kilometres stood between young mum Ratna Wilis and the hospital that could help her newborn son.
After exchanging the bustle of Indonesia for the Australian outback two years ago, Ratna met her now husband Nathan and began a new life surrounded by the vast red earth and endless skies of Alice Springs.
The young couple welcomed their first son, Muhammad, in 2024 – a tiny bundle of joy they hoped would bring light into their life. But instead of the sleepless nights that new parents often expected, Ratna and Nathan faced something much worse.
Muhammad was born prematurely at 31 weeks with a rare brain condition that became apparent immediately after his birth.
A series of tests at Alice Springs Hospital confirmed the diagnosis: hydrocephalus – an abnormal buildup of fluid deep within the brain, putting harmful pressure on the brain’s tissues.
Muhammad needed urgent surgery, but it was a complicated case that could only be treated in Adelaide, more than a thousand kilometres away.
“Muhammad was born really early and so small. For me, the experience was scary – really scary for me,” Ratna said.
“But as Mum, I tried to be strong for him.”
It wasn’t until Ratna’s phone rang one afternoon that hope became reality – it was the Medical Retrieval and Consultation Centre (MRaCC) at Alice Springs Hospital informing Ratna that the Royal Flying Doctor Service could safely transport her son to Adelaide.
Just days later, Ratna found herself in the back of an RFDS PC-24 aeromedical jet with a flight nurse, who provided in-flight care and midwifery support.
The RFDS monitored Muhammad’s vitals, giving reassurance that everything would be alright.
“Baby Muhammad needed a special neurosurgical procedure to have a shunt inserted. It needed to be done in a timely manner or it could have led to disability or further health issues,” RFDS Flight Nurse Charlotte Sumskas said.
“It wasn’t just landing in Adelaide and then waving goodbye – I escorted the road ambulance to the hospital for a bedside handover. It was about ensuring from the door of the discharging hospital to the receiving hospital that Muhammad, and mum, had the care they needed.”
He was 1500 to 1600 grams. Logistically I had to think, ‘How am I going to get this very small vulnerable baby all the way to Adelaide safely and securely?’
Charlotte Sumskas, Flight Nurse
At the time, Ratna had never heard of the Flying Doctor, let alone imagined needing to use an aircraft to reach medical care.
Growing up in Indonesia, the concept seemed like something out of a movie.
“When this baby was sent to Adelaide, we flew on a jet,” Ratna said.
“I was like, ‘Okay this is nice, it’s really really nice.’ It was a great experience for me. I knew this was really safe for him."
The Flying Doctor is really doing a great thing. For helping people like us – like my boy.
Ratna WilisMuhammad’s surgery was delicate, but successful. Over the next few weeks, Muhammad made a full recovery with Ratna by his side and was able to return home to Alice Springs.
“Seeing them back here after all this time, I mean he just looks so big and chubby faced,” Charlotte said.
“You can tell he’s doing so well and is so loved – they’re just a beautiful little family.”
As Ratna continues her life in Alice Springs, her connection with her new country has deepened. The vast desert, the quiet town, and now the medical professionals who cared for her son… Australia has given her more than she could have ever expected.
“I can’t imagine if the Flying Doctor didn’t help. This is a gift for me – a really big gift,” Ratna said.
Learn more about the Flying Doctor.
