hospital care package...

[krismom]

you guys always have such good advice- I'm making a care package for a friend's 6 year old who is having open heart surgery this week. I picked up a Webkinz, some hand held games and a few craft things. I wanted to add some stuff for his mom (who will be staying with him) and I can't come up with anything other than magazines and candy.I was thinking of a gift card or 2 for area restaurants... Can anyone offer any other suggestions?
thanks in advance!

 

[mom2grace]

Something for her to do! Suduko, cross stitch, scrapbooking, etc. I work in a PICU, and it can be very boring for the parents! Something to occupy her mind! You sound like a great friend!

 

[clh2]

Some hospitals offer "gift cards" to their cafeterias. That might be a nice choice (albeit it is cafeteria food) if the mom doesn't want to actually leave the hospital.

Or - how about offering to pick up something for her one of the nights. You could just arrange to call her, and have her meet you in the hospital lobby.

 

[meeshi]

How about a phone card? When my dd was in the hospital, I could only use my cell phone in certain areas, but not in her room. So it was nice to not have to leave the room to make a phone call.

 

[snomofinn]

When my husband was in the hospital, the best thing people could of gave me was some free time..I looked forward to when people would come see him, I would get some time to go and grab a cup of coffee, or do some errands. That meant more to me then any "gifts".

 

[mcco5543]

over 70 surgery hopsital veteran here!

I don't know if you live in the area, but doing something like running an errand for her, or grocery shopping for her family or cleaning her house. Doing something that she knows she needs to get done but doesn't want to take time away from her son to do will free her mind to concentrate on her son and not worry about other "needless" things. So if you could do that for her, or arrange for a mutual friend who lives near by to do that for her. Wow you'd be her hero!

I also agree, if you DO live in the area...going to see her and her son will help give her worrying mommy mind a little break and also ease any tention between her and her child that can come from spending all day every day together. (my mom and I always enjoyed company).

I'm sending healing vibes to the family!!!

 

[LaraK]

Check the hospital's website and see if they have CarePages or CaringBridge...these are both services that many hospitals now ofter that allow a patient's family to create a web page to post updates. If you are close to this friend...offer to be her webmaster. Give her a phone card to call you and you can update all her friends and family for her.(you just need e-mail addresses for her family and friends)..one of the hardest parts of having a sick child is that you end up having to retell every step of the process over and over and over again, it's exhausting both physically and mentally.

Another thing to send her is little "freshen up" packets...some body wash, some powder, etc....For her daughter, maybe some fun bending straws with characters on them (drinking can be hard post-op). Some earphones to create some white noise. Eye shades and ear plugs for both.

Most of all, let her know you're thinking of her.

 

[krismom]

thanks so much for your thoughtful suggestions.... I am going to add a phone card and the eye shades to the bag and have already organized a few moms to make meals.