Superhero Suite for young patients at the Horton

Two rooms at the Horton General Hospital's Children's Ward have been transformed thanks to the generous support of a local family.

The treatment rooms have been given a magical makeover to delight, distract and entertain young patients.

The walls are now filled with fun and imaginative images of superheroes, space stations, city skyscapes, flying animals and even Banbury’s famous Lady on a White Horse.

Stephanie and James Tombling have been fundraising for the ward since their six-year-old son, Zach, passed away in May 2024.

The money they raised has funded the improvements to the two rooms at the Horton, part of Oxford University Hospitals, to make the ward more welcoming for children and their families.

The new 'Superhero Suite'  has now been officially opened with a ribbon cutting attended by the Tombling family, staff from the ward, the design company, and members of the Horton General Hospital Charity team.

James Tombling said: "Zach had Menkes Syndrome, a very rare genetic disorder that leads to severe neurological and developmental issues, so he spent a lot of time in the Horton Children's Ward.

"Although he was incredibly challenged medically and needed care 24/7, he understood a lot, and there was a happy six-year-old inside of him. He loved the smiling faces of staff in the hospital, and they loved his own big smiles, positive attitude and sense of humour. He inspired all around him.

"We called him Super Zach, because despite everything life threw at him he kept smiling. It amazes me how much of a big impact he had on people in his little life.

"I felt quite overwhelmed seeing it all, he would have loved it. And if this can make someone’s stay in hospital a little bit easier and brighten up their time, that’s a lovely thing, and makes me really proud that we’ve done this."

Stephanie Tombling added: "It's amazing, seeing all of this come to life from being a concept to being here at the hospital – and knowing there’s so much detail and thought that has gone into it.

"It's a very special space for us, as Zach spent a large part of his life here – and he would have loved all the colour and design, as would we during the many weeks we spent here."

"Zach loved cartoons, space, animals and superheroes and we were so pleased that all these elements were included in the design – alongside fun and surprising moments, like an ostrich with a helicopter, a train flying over a rainbow  – there's even a drawing of a superhero in a wheelchair, marshalling an elephant – it's fun, but also empowering for children with disabilities. It's amazing."

Laura King, Head of Fundraising at Horton General Hospital Charity, which is part of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: "Being with James and Stephanie, and seeing their reactions to this new art was such a privilege. You could see just how much it meant to them and the staff on the ward who know the family so well. There were hugs, tears and big smiles.

"Projects like this make such a difference in our hospitals and everyone at the charity is truly touched and grateful to the Tombling family for this very kind support which will make a difference for many young patients for years to come."

Helen Grundon, Staff Nurse at the Horton, attended the special event on her day off and said: "This means such a lot to all the staff on the Horton Children's Ward. We will never forget Zach – he was such a special lad. And it's amazing that the family wanted to give back and help others with children coming into hospital."

Ruth Charity, Arts Lead, at Horton General Hospital Charity, said: "This very special artwork has been supported by Artlink, the charity's arts programme and created by Peagreen design. The team there worked very closely with the family and ward staff to create this very beautiful design to transform these two spaces."

The charity has also recently funded a full-scale revamp of the outdoor play area, a new accessible wet room on the ward and a space for teenagers to enjoy.

Horton General Hospital Charity is part of Oxford Hospitals Charity – donations help to transform hospital spaces, for patients young and old, fund innovative medical equipment and support specialist research.