Proactive referral
Families should not have to ask for help: help reaches them, through the clinical staff.
MaiSoli
No one should face the transplant journey alone.
A network of support for families from Ticino during the heart and lung transplant journey.
The problemWhen the organ arrives, the family has only hours to leave.
The problem
The medical care is excellent. What is missing lies all around the operation.
A
Far from home
Patients from Ticino are transplanted in Bern, Zurich or Lausanne. The care is of the highest standard. The distance remains.
B
Everything at once
Travel, accommodation, unexpected costs, work to reorganise, a different language. Within a few hours.
C
Nobody takes care of it
Today there is no structured service accompanying families from Ticino through this journey.
What we do
Seven concrete services, from the first contact to the return home.
Accommodation
Agreements with places to stay in the immediate vicinity of the transplant centres.
Mobility and transport
Support with travel, parking and transport costs to and from Ticino.
Meals
Partnerships with restaurants and canteens near the university hospitals.
Orientation
Practical information, logistical support and guidance throughout the stay.
Language support
Italian-speaking contact people to make communication with local services easier.
Presence
Listening and presence, thanks also to those who have already been through this journey.
Our story
In May 2025 Linda received a new heart at the Inselspital in Bern. Day after day her partner Alessandro was beside her: more than a month away from home, in a hotel, in a city that spoke another language.
While Linda was cared for by a whole team, Alessandro was on his own. That is where the idea for MAI SOLI comes from.
Linda was fortunate: that presence was part of her recovery. But it is a privilege not every family can afford.
This is exactly where MAI SOLI begins: turning that privilege into a possibility for everyone.
Partners and patronages
MAI SOLI is not starting alone. This is the real state of our institutional relationships, updated in October 2026.
Swisstransplant
Support for the association's formationSwisstransplant is the Swiss national foundation for the donation and transplantation of organs and tissues. In October 2026 the foundation assured MAI SOLI of its support for the formation of the association.
EOC — Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale
Letter of support from the General ManagementIn October 2026 the General Management of the EOC expressed its support for the initiative in writing. Institutional patronage and use of the logo will be decided by the Board of Directors after reviewing the association's final statutes.
Cardiocentro Ticino
Clinical reference in TicinoThe reference centre for cardiology patients from Ticino before and after transplantation. Patronage is being formalised.
Fondazione Ticino Cuore
Outreach in TicinoSupport in making the project known across Ticino. The project will be presented to the Foundation Board in 2027.
No logo is published until written authorisation and the relevant usage guidelines have been received from each institution.