Gift ideas for cancer patients?

Hey ladies, I thought I could get some really great ideas here! A fellow CC survivor has a blog where she's posting gift ideas for cancer patients. She's asked for more ideas as she's being swamped with questions about "what else?" I'd like to get thoughts from you all on what items you loved, what items weren't much help, what things you may have wanted but didn't receive...AND the items that you definately recommend AGAINST giving!

If you want, you can leave a message here and I'll pass it on.

All suggestions are welcome, not just for gyne cancers, but any cancer!

Items I Loved:

The most precious gift anyone gave me was to pray for me, but this is not a "one size fits all" sort of gift.

Blooming, growing plants because they sent a message of hope that I, too, was going to continue to bloom and grow.

Meals during recovery, as DH does not like to cook.

Cards and short phone calls just to say "I'm thinking about you." Support means a lot during such a difficult time.

My DH calling friends to tell them about my diagnosis when I wasn't up to expending the energy. I think it helped him, too, as friends were very supportive of the two of us.

Flowers from a man I had never met who sent them because he works out with DH and credits DH with keeping him on an exercise routine.

Things I Would Have Enjoyed But Did Not Receive:

A pretty nightie to wear while I was at home.


I was so amazed by the people who took the time to connect with me. The generosity of spirit they showed meant a great deal to me. I do not consider myself sentimental, but I am saving every card I received. Something as simple as a card is treasured.

Meals/if it is a gift, gift cards to a restaurant to help with cooking (I am a single mom of 2 special need teenagers, it was a struggle to cook for the 3 of us but it had to be done).

A Bible (this would not have offended me at all, I know some it may).

Flowers

A trip to the movies with a friend/family to occupy the mind.

Books

I think gift cards are a great idea, to a local grocery store, local take out places, maybe a vitamin place like GNC, a house cleaning service would be a good idea. Anything to make life easier.. as a special gift for woman with gyno cancer I think maybe a victoria gift card. Its always nice to buy something pretty I know myself I went this weekend because Chemo starts tomorrow and got my self ALOT of lounge wear, even if I feel crappy Ill still be comfortable and look somewhat presentable.

Vega, would you let us know how to find the composite list of gift ideas that is being compiled. Thanks.

Some ideas--

The gift of time: general as well as specific offers, such as driving a friend to the doctor for post-op check-up, going grocery shopping, taking kids to the movies or park, picking up and returning DVD or VCR movies.

Making and delivering a wholesome salad or casserole can be a godsend for someone who doesn't have help with cooking. A delicious meal, ready to eat, lifts the spirit. A friend of mine provided a woman who had a double masectomy with jars of rich, homemade soups on a regular basis during the chilly winter of her recovery.

The gift of knowledge: giving or lending books that you found helpful, providing a list of web sites you found useful, sharing what you have learned that would make recuperation easier.

A great gift I stumbled on myself, unfortunately post-op, was HysterSisters, which led me to gifting myself an Easy Reacher (grabber). I will be lending it out to anyone I know who will be facing abdominal surgery.

I received several lovely floral arrangements, one at the hospital and two at home. My favorite was the one delivered to my hospital room the afternoon of my morning surgery. Its riotous colors gave the entire room positive energy for the 4 days I was there.

For a movie buff friend, the loan of a box of your DVD's that she could select during recuperation at home could be fun.

I took several books to the hospital to read, but found that I wasn't interested in sustained reading in the hospital or the first week at home. A great gift to me would have been some current magazines with light content and lots of pictures, like fashion and home decorating and travel. I didn't have the wherewithal in the hospital to ask family or friends to get some for me--there's something about that morphine drip.

A joke gift: a bottle of prune juice.

I enjoyed the cards I received in the mail, and appreciated the time taken to write personal notes on them. I especially enjoyed the outrageously funny E-cards I received, the bawdier the better, although I don't recommend those for everyone or for the first week of recovery from abdominal surgery, as suppressing belly laughs is difficult.

______________________
TAH/BSO April 28, 2008, Endometrial Cancer (endometrioid
adenocarcinoma), Stage I-b, FIGO Grade 1,2 (15 lymph nodes removed)
NFT, checkups every 3 months (first year)

Some of the gifts that I really appreciated:

• Books - as much time as I spent in waiting rooms, or hooked up to the chemo drip, books were a great way to pass the time.
• Errands/transportation: I had friends who picked up groceries for me, took me to/from appointments, etc. -- if someone is looking to give a gift, perhaps a gift certificate to a car service or a grocery delivery service, or a dog walker would be a good idea?
• A chance to get out of the house: Some of the nicest gifts came in the form of friends who told me they had an 'extra' movie ticket (or in one case, an extra Eddie Izzard ticket), and did I want to get out of the house for a change of scene?
• Last but certainly not least, were the friends who offered to pray every day for me, or to pray for me at Mass, etc. That really meant a lot.

One of my dear friends put together a gift bag full of things to help you feel/look better, including super-soft slipper socks, Jergen's tinted moisturizer (for a nice glow), John Frieda hair products (for your specific hair color, mine is red), Burt's Bees lip balm and a "hot chocolate for two" kit. It meant so much to me that she put the time and thought into gathering everything. (And, the individual items aren't very expensive and are readily available, so it might work for lots of folks.)

My mom and hubby each bought me small stuffed animal cats (from the hospital gift shop, I'm sure) to keep me company while I was in the hospital away from our real kitty. To this day, they still ride with me in my car.

Anything is appreciated, but something that you know is truly heartfelt means a lot.

You know what I loved the most, I think?

*Encouraging Cards in the mail. (Definetly NOT GET WELL SOON, but more of 'I'm here if you need me, you can do it, believe in miracles, etc etc)

*Knowing I was on folk's prayer circles.

*Head coverings: A "Survivor" bandana and a "bad hair day" cap.

*people who let me know they loved me and supported me without getting in my face and demanding to spend time with me when I didnt' want to be social.

*The people who treated me like a normal person, not a person with cancer.

*the people who believed I could do anything, even if I DID have cancer.

*The friends who came over and helped take care of my horse.

*The friend who took my dogs to be groomed.

*the people that helped keep my daughter occupied so I could just rest.

*A pamper kit: Someone sent me some nice facial cream cleanser, some lovely lightly scented body powder, some pillow spray for relaxation.

AND....the promise of things to come. Someone gave me a gift certificate for an event that was 8 months away...gave me something to look forward to when my chemo was done AND let me know that people believed I'd beat cancer and be around to enjoy that event!

Vega,
All of the above are good but one that hasn't been mentioned is Note Cards or Thank you Cards (with stamps would even be better).

Jean

Blank note cards and stamps are a great idea! I ended up sending a lot of thank you cards - I felt well enough to do that much and it made me feel good to say thank you to people for their thoughtfulness. Just before surgery, I bought some thank you cards but I almost ran out of them and my stockpile!