A garden which is a sanctuary for families who have lost their babies, has opened at the John Radcliffe Hospital with the help of funds raised by a bereaved couple.
Jude Williams and her partner Mark Murphy from Chipping Norton were devastated when their one-day-old baby, Jacob, passed away in May 2021.
They said they will never forget how important the Bereavement Suites at the JR's Women's Centre were to them so they could say goodbye to their little boy in privacy and without any rush.
Since then they have been determined to remember their son and raise funds to help other families facing similar grief.
The couple, friends and family – calling themselves 'the J Team' in Jacob's memory – took on a number of challenges such as Tough Mudders and have raised over £30,000 so far.
READ MORE: Police at the scene of crash involving ambulance
Their fundraising has helped to create the Butterfly Suite Garden, turning a previously uninspiring outside space into a beautiful environment, brimming with colour.
Award-winning artist and designer Ella Doran worked closely with the maternity bereavement team and Murphy family to create a decorative meadow of flowers and butterflies on vinyl artwork on the windows to the garden, echoed in a series of canvas artworks for all patient rooms in the suite.
In the garden area, Ms Doran collaborated with metalworker Lara Sparey to create a wall-based memorial sculpture focused on a flight of butterflies - often the symbol of baby loss, which staff were keen to use as a basis of the work.
Jude said: "At a time you never imagine you will have to go through in your life, you need things around you that are comforting, and I think that this will make a big difference to families who find themselves in the same position as we were."
Ruth Charity, Arts Lead at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: "It is so important to give families the time, space and privacy to start the grieving process – and providing the right environment and support is key to that.
"We are really thankful to all those families who have helped us make this whole area really special, and would like to thank the Murphys for this latest beautiful improvement."
Families who visit the area will also be gifted a box with a small metal butterfly to take home with them.
READ MORE: Live - Power cut affecting 172 Oxfordshire postcodes
Mark, Jacob's dad, said: "It is amazing to see the difference in the garden and how it feels up here. It is such a calming area and has totally changed the feel of the space.
"Jacob was a little ray of sunshine who touched the hearts of so many who were yet to meet him and this space is the perfect way to honour his memory.
"We would like to thank our friends and family, for helping us to raise so much money for this amazing area of the hospital.
"It is thanks to them that we have been able to complete this project."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here