New Service Helps Capital Region Residents Reach NYC Medical Centers with Dignity and Ease
Albany, NY — The journey to healing is never easy, and for many, simply getting to their medical appointments is an overwhelming challenge. Inspired by her own experiences, Francesca LoPorto-Brandow has launched The Flutter Express, a compassionate transportation service designed to help patients and their families travel on a 56-passenger motor coach bus to locations with world-class medical centers with comfort and ease outside of the Capital Region.
“My name is Francesca. I’m a mom of two boys, a dog mom to our cockapoo Bruno, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. I love butterflies, celebrating life’s moments, and staying connected to the world around me, but in October of 2020, I also became a cancer patient,” says LoPorto-Brandow. Just four months after giving birth to her second child, her world changed when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 primary mediastinal large B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma—a rare and aggressive cancer, and was given only a 2% chance of survival at the time of her diagnosis.
Despite the grim prognosis, LoPorto-Brandow built a multidisciplinary care team from her hospital bed, including local doctors and a Lymphoma specialist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and began the fight for her life. But her battle was not hers alone. Over the next two years, she also navigated her father’s recurrence of Multiple Myeloma, her in-laws’ cancer battles, and, most recently, her husband’s diagnosis of a rare blood cancer.
Through it all, one challenge stood out: transportation.
“My husband and I personally drove 16,000 miles in three months to ensure my father received the care he needed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,” LoPorto-Brandow recalls. “That experience opened my eyes to how overwhelming travel can be for patients and their families. Transportation shouldn’t be an added worry or stressor when people are already navigating so much.”
That realization led to the creation of The Flutter Express. As a partner of Yankee Trails, this service provides a comfortable and dignified way for people to reach leading medical centers, including those in New York City. With thoughtful touches such as complimentary water, snacks, essential travel kits for adults and kids, and a supportive community-focused environment, The Flutter Express allows passengers to focus on what matters most—their health.
“Comfort, ease, and community are at the heart of what we do,” LoPorto-Brandow explains. “Whether it's cancer, IVF, or other health challenges, every bit of ease and compassion matters. That’s why The Flutter Express is open to all—those seeking healthcare and their supportive communities—because no journey should be faced alone, no matter the condition or circumstance.”
The first scheduled round-trip service from Rensselaer, Albany, and Catskill to New York City is planned for March 11th, 2025. The coach bus stops near world-renowned healthcare facilities, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, The Hospital for Special Surgery, and other specialized adult and pediatric centers, so that access to locations with a wide range of experts and medical care are possible. Reservations can be made online at www.theflutterexpress.com. Plans to expand to additional cities will be shared at a later date.
The Flutter Express offers a reliable, convenient, customer-centered alternative. The service bridges the gap for individuals seeking healthcare in locations far from home while avoiding the challenges of driving, navigating public transportation, or arranging costly private travel.
For LoPorto-Brandow, The Flutter Express is more than a service—it’s a mission. “This is one of my ways of giving back so people can prioritize their health,” she says. “I know firsthand how stressful, lonely, and overwhelming the journey can be. If The Flutter Express can make it even a little easier, then it’s worth it.”
About The Flutter Express
The Flutter Express is a customer-focused transportation service created by Francesca LoPorto-Brandow, a cancer survivor and advocate for compassionate transportation solutions. The Flutter Express provides reliable, comfortable, and stress-free transportation to locations with world-renowned healthcare institutions via Yankee Trails motor coach buses. For more information, contact Francesca LoPorto-Brandow at info@theflutterexpress.com, 518-217-5121, or www.theflutterexpress.com.
For media inquiries:
Contact: Francesca LoPorto-Brandow Email: marketing@theflutterexpress.com Phone: 518-217-5121