Gift for friend to help her through her baby's surgery?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Yes.... Another "What should I give?" thread.


One of my good friends has a baby having brain surgery at the end of the month. It's a pretty serious surgery and I want her to know that not only am I thinking of the baby, but her as well.

I thought about flowers, but think they are just extra junk for her to lug to hotel or home.

My next idea was a gift card to Starbucks or the like so that she can get her self a few drinks or meals during the hospital stay.

What would you get?

 

[poohfriend77]

If its a close friend and the hospital is nearby, I'd probably drop off some food a couple times during their stay.

If they are too far away for that, I think your idea of coffee/restaurant gift cards is perfect. Find out what is near the hospital. Give her a note reminding her to take care of herself, so she can take care of the baby. I hope everything goes well!

 

[MrsDuck]

Yes.... Another "What should I give?" thread.


One of my good friends has a baby having brain surgery at the end of the month. It's a pretty serious surgery and I want her to know that not only am I thinking of the baby, but her as well.

I thought about flowers, but think they are just extra junk for her to lug to hotel or home.

My next idea was a gift card to Starbucks or the like so that she can get her self a few drinks or meals during the hospital stay.

What would you get?

I'd probably do some basket of things she likes and can use while they're at the hospital - magazines, Starbucks cards, nail polish, yummy snacks, hand cream?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Yeah the hospital is far away from me...

The baskets are a good idea.

 

[HelenePA]

honestly the the less "stuff" you send the better.. gift cards are the way to go.. look at what restaurants are near the hospital and get them. I've been in that situation before (first daughter had open heart surgery)

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

honestly the the less "stuff" you send the better.. gift cards are the way to go.. look at what restaurants are near the hospital and get them. I've been in that situation before (first daughter had open heart surgery)

That's what I was thinking too. I just know sometimes gift cards can seem impersonal and she is a very close friend.

 

[HelenePA]

the last thing she will want to do is paint her nails.. if she wants a magazine she can borrow one from one of the floors many waiting rooms. Dont waste your money. Gift cards are the way to go for this one

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A card to let her know you are thinking of her with a gift card. A handmade blanket for the baby, stuffed animal, or something like that.

Candies? We have given bags of assorted candies that way you can have something to get you by or pass out to visitors or staff for that matter.

I play cards when in the hospital waiting but we are card players, so your YMMV there.

 

[HelenePA]

A card to let her know you are thinking of her with a gift card. A handmade blanket for the baby, stuffed animal, or something like that.

Candies? We have given bags of assorted candies that way you can have something to get you by or pass out to visitors or staff for that matter.

I play cards when in the hospital waiting but we are card players, so your YMMV there.

I played tetris on a game boy and didn't say a word to anyone until she was out.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would get her a gift bag and fill it with:

A pretty journal
Some cute pens
Breath mints or gum (talking to the doctors at all hours of the nights - dragon breath)
Hard candy
Granola bars or jerky - something for a quick snack that isn't candy
Crossword or Suduko puzzles
Roll of quarters for vending
Gift card to a coffee place in the hospital or within walking distance
Cards for solitaire, etc.

All the stuff that was in the care pkg I received when my son was in the hospital

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I played tetris on a game boy and didn't say a word to anyone until she was out.

My brother, sister, & I are card players so we play Euchre together. My last stint was dh in the hospital with a heart attack and bypass this past Dec. and we played cards.

We also played when my dd was getting her open heart surgery as a baby, 22 yrs ago. Although not sure we were playing Euchre then it was probably Hearts or Spades then.

I have cards in my purse at all times in case of emergency.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Several years ago, my cousin and his wife had to take their baby for a series of heart surgeries at a hospital two hours from their town. My sister and I chipped in and sent them gift cards for gas and restaurants near the hospital. Some were fast food and some were a little nicer so they could have a choice. My parents sent them a card and told them to have their Ronald McDonald house bills sent to them. It was only $10 a night, but they added up quickly. They had two other kids at the time and were glad to have some of the expenses taken care of.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Gift cards or even cash that she can use at the hospital cafe.

Send her texts to remind her to eat. She needs to eat to be able to take care of the baby afterwards. Remind her of that and tell her she doesn't need to respond but you should send her texts every few hours.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Gift cards or even cash that she can use at the hospital cafe.

Send her texts to remind her to eat. She needs to eat to be able to take care of the baby afterwards. Remind her of that and tell her she doesn't need to respond but you should send her texts every few hours.

That's good too. Thanks!

 

[DisDance]

Maybe a nice card saying how her and the baby are in your thoughts and prayers? Some nice words can be more comforting then material things

 

[MSSANDRA]

Been There...Done That. We had a child in ICU for 3 months. It gets very expensive. No time or desire for anyone to cook, gas money, lost income etc.

Gift cards are the way to go. You could send a check but she might not even have time to cash it and she might feel obligated to put it towards bills when she really need to take care of herself a bit too.

I would check to see if the hospital has a gift card type thing for the cafeteria. She will eat a lot of meals from there and the food is not cheap. Food gift cards (goggle and find the closest places to the hospital, or to her home if the baby will not be in the hospital for too long), gas cards, visa cards or itune cards (a lot of sitting and waiting and having a few new down loads on her phone would be nice).

If money is not a huge issue and you are quite close, perhaps pay for someone to clean her house before the baby comes home. I am sure she has had no time and you really want a very clean house with a post surgery baby!

I would suggest daily text rather than calls. She can read and return them on her terms. Just one liners just as "thinking or praying for you", or "hoping for a good day for baby X".

You are being a good friend.

 

[Luvchefmic]

That's what I was thinking too. I just know sometimes gift cards can seem impersonal and she is a very close friend.

It won't be impersonal, your friend will be going through so much physically and emotionally she won't be worrying about taking care of herself A nice note to tell her that you are enclosing the GC to make things easier for her to do that will mean a great deal and be a tremendous help in the long run

 

[powellrj]

When my DS was in the hospital last year, there was a Jimmy Johns that delivered to the hospital so many times thats what we ate because the times the hospital cafeteria was open were off times or during the times when the doctors made their rounds so we would miss meals and it was nice to be able to call and have sandwiches delivered. Can you find out if there is any place that delivers?

 

[debster812]

You could also try to reach the social services or patient advocate offices at the hospital. Explain to them what you'd like to do, they have DECADES of experience with this, and could probably offer some advice as to what specific gift cards to get, as they'll know whats close to the hospital.

 

[akcire]

Yes.... Another "What should I give?" thread.

One of my good friends has a baby having brain surgery at the end of the month. It's a pretty serious surgery and I want her to know that not only am I thinking of the baby, but her as well.

I thought about flowers, but think they are just extra junk for her to lug to hotel or home.

My next idea was a gift card to Starbucks or the like so that she can get her self a few drinks or meals during the hospital stay.

What would you get?

Find out if the hospital charges for parking. If they do give get a card with cash to cover some or all the parking fees. They add up quick.

There is a new charity being created in IL at the moment surrounding families with sick kids and the costs if parking.

If the hospital doesn't charge is give a gas gift card.

Nothing could be more important for either if them than spending as much time together as possible. Gas & parking add up.