The Journey Begins: Six Months of Planning for 48 Days in Europe

Tomorrow, our adventure begins.

For the next 48 days, my daughter Kiya, my mother Mary, and I will travel through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, the Isle of Wight, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal. While many people see the photos of castles, beaches, trains, and cafés, what they often don’t see is the amount of planning that goes into making a trip like this possible when traveling with a person with disabilities.

Our journey really began in January.

The first task was booking flights and figuring out accommodations for Kiya’s medical needs. That meant multiple conversations with Alaska Airlines, Aer Lingus, and TSA. Kiya travels with several medical bags containing prescription medications, syringes, feeding extensions, pull-ups, wipes, and other supplies that are essential to her health and daily care.

One of our biggest concerns was making sure these medical supplies would travel with us in the cabin and not be checked. If her medications or medical equipment were lost in checked baggage, our trip would be over before it even began. We spent countless hours confirming policies, asking questions, and making sure everyone understood the importance of these items.

Perhaps the biggest challenge was planning for Kiya’s nutritional needs. Since her formula is not readily available throughout Europe, we had to bring enough for the entire journey. By the time we finished packing, we had two 10-kilogram suitcases weighing approximately 50 pounds each, completely filled with formula. In addition, one carry-on bag contains another 20 pounds of formula. It may seem excessive, but these supplies are just as important as medications. Having access to her nutrition throughout the trip provides peace of mind and allows us to focus on enjoying our adventure.

Next came lodging.

Because Kiya uses a transport chair, we had to carefully research accommodations that would meet our needs. Accessibility can mean something very different depending on the country, city, or even the individual property. Door widths, elevators, bathroom layouts, stairs, and transportation access all became important factors in our decision-making.

Transportation planning was another adventure of its own. We purchased train tickets and learned something exciting along the way: in many parts of Europe, a person with a disability and their caregiver can travel free or at a reduced cost. It was encouraging to discover programs that make travel more accessible and affordable for families like ours.

As our departure date approached, we continued preparing.

We ordered a new wheelchair equipped with shocks because we knew we would encounter cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, and historic pathways throughout Europe. We found a travel bed rail, a small sound machine, and other items that would help Kiya feel comfortable away from home.

One item was especially important. Kiya has a Lane Blanket that she absolutely loves. It provides comfort, familiarity, and security wherever she goes. Knowing how important it is to her, we had the blanket modified and sewn into two smaller blankets. This way, one can travel with her on the airplane and throughout our journey while still keeping the comfort of her favorite blanket close by.

We signed up for TSA PreCheck and completed our Electronic Travel Authorization requirements. We even took Kiya’s luggage to the airport ahead of time to talk with airline staff about boarding procedures and discuss checkpoint screening with TSA. Every conversation helped reduce uncertainty and build confidence for travel day.

There were moments when the planning felt overwhelming. There were phone calls, emails, paperwork, reservations, and endless checklists. Yet each task brought us one step closer to our goal.

Now we are one day away.

Tomorrow we leave Montana and begin a journey that will take us through the rolling green landscapes of Ireland, the castles of Scotland, the history of England and Wales, the seaside charm of the Isle of Wight, the canals of Amsterdam, the chocolate shops of Brussels, the cafés of Paris, the sunshine of southern France, the energy of Madrid, and the beauty of Portugal before returning to Dublin for our flight home.

This blog was created to share our adventure, but also to help other families who may wonder if international travel is possible with a child or adult with disabilities.

Our answer is yes.

It takes planning. It takes patience. It takes advocacy. It takes flexibility.

It takes knowing which questions to ask and who to ask them to.

But it is possible.

As we prepare to board our flight tomorrow, our suitcases are packed, the medical supplies are organized, the formula is weighed, the wheelchair is ready, and Kiya’s favorite blanket is tucked away for the journey ahead.

Tomorrow the real adventure begins.