Little superhero patients find way to fly above hospital-stay fears

DON’T be surprised if you see a little superhero flying past you at Nepean ­Hospital. Word on the corridor is many of the kids in the children’s ward have been given superpowered capes — to help them be brave.

DON’T be surprised if you see a little superhero “flying” past you at Nepean Hospital.

Word on the corridor is many of the kids in the children’s ward have been gifted superpowered capes — to help them face off against all their arch-nemeses, including Boredom and Trepidation.

The Penrith Press found four-year-old Super Cohen in a brightly coloured cape — running (almost) faster than a speeding bullet in the kids ward.

Cohen Dunne 4, and Zarlia Bosman, 2, show off their new superhero capes. Picture: Justin Sanson

Super Cohen shows nurse Lisieux Joseph how to run with your cape flying in the breeze.

Asked why he loved his cape, he said simply: “Because I do.”

Missing from the conversation was the “Wham, Bam, Kapow” filled speech bubbles, but not the superhero confidence.

Asked to pick a favourite hero, between Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, he said Wonder Woman.

This was news to his dad Zac Dunne who laughed, saying: “He loves Batman.”

Super Cohen — aka Cohen Dunne — is a huge Batman fan, said his earth dad Zac Dunne, of Kingswood.

Super Cohen would like nothing better than to see Batman and Wonder Woman face off. Picture: DC Entertainment via AP

“I’m going on a steam engine,” said Super Cohen, drawing attention back to his alter ego Cohen Dunne, of Kingswood, who had arrived in the ward at 4am last Friday with earthly croup symptoms.

There he found nurses who are in on the comic book role-playing action, too, sporting superhero capes and magical smiles.

“They’re fantastic — everybody loves them,” nurse unit manager Shannan Waddups said of the superpopular capes, made by Canberra based charity Capes 4 Kids Australia.

Zarlia Bosman 2, shows off her cape.

Cohen Dunne, 4, chased by Zarlia Bosman 2.

Designed to help kids feel as safe, secure and brave as possible while undergoing challenging, often scary situations and treatments, the capes are in “big demand”.

“We’re up to our second box,” Ms Waddups said.

She said no design was more popular than another.

“They’re all bright and colourful,” she said.

Nurse Lisiex Joseph, pictured left with Super Cohen in Wonder Woman action, minus her golden lasso, said “it’s fun” to wear a cape to work. Like Hades it is!

CAPES 4 KIDS

■ Started in June 2014 by a Canberra mum of two, Capes 4 Kids Australia Inc has made more than 8500 handcrafted capes for sick children in hospitals.

■ The capes are not for sale, although Capes 4 Kids Australia is always looking for donations of bright, fun and funky fabric material.

■ For details and to donate, visit: capes4kidsaustralia.com.au/donate.html