Superhero Sylvie is the face of fundraising appeal

Sylvie with Play Specialist Naomi Taylor

A six-year-old from Abingdon is the face of the new Oxford Hospitals Charity Christmas Appeal – encouraging people to make a donation and help local children in hospital 'feel like superheroes'.

Sylvie was cared for in the Oxford Children's Hospital earlier this year.

Her mum, Caroline, explains: "She was very poorly with acute cerebellitis – a severe swelling on her brain. She needed an emergency MRI so was rushed in for that and then spent time on Bellhouse Ward in the hospital.

"She was in and out of consciousness, had trouble swallowing and had issues with her balance.

"It was a very scary time for us, but I was really reassured that we were in the right place and the staff knew how to take care of her medically, physically and mentally.

"They were so thoughtful and caring and we knew she was their priority."

Sylvie enjoyed getting to know all the hospital staff on the ward and loved spending time in the playroom with the hospital's play specialists, who aided her recovery.

Caroline said: "They all made a very difficult situation as positive as possible and we will always be grateful to them."

Sylvie added: "I was a bit scared at first. But the people in hospital were really nice and I liked playing with them. They made me feel like a superhero."

This Christmas, Oxford Hospitals Charity wants to help more children in hospital feel like a superhero and are asking everyone to get behind their fundraising appeal. 

Donations could help fund tools, equipment, and specialist training to help clinical teams provide care that makes children in hospital feel like superheroes.

Sylvie wrote and illustrated a story about her experiences during her time in hospital, entitled Sylvie's Superpowers, which was the inspiration for the Oxford Hospitals Charity Christmas Appeal.

Her imaginative tale talked about how the MRI on her brain showed up her "superhero powers" as well as her love of  "chocolate, rainbows, friends and sheep".

Laura King, Individual Giving Manager at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: "Sylvie's story made us all smile and we just loved the idea that she felt her time in hospital had given her superhero powers. We meet so many amazing young patients and to us they are all superheroes, so it made the perfect theme for our charity appeal."

Laura added: "The excellent care Sylvie received in Oxford Children's Hospital made her feel like a superhero. This Christmas, your donations could help make more children in hospital feel like a superhero too."

Find out more about Sylvie's time in the Oxford Children's Hospital via YouTube.