Need ideas for 12 year old going in for surgery

[java]

My daughter's friend has Spina Bifida and is having some surgery in August- she'll be in the hospital for about a week. I want to send her something but not sure what.
She is wheelchair bound, not a big reader, allergic to stuffed animals and latex. Any ideas?

 

[bopper]

Does she have a portable video game player (Gameboy, DS, etc)? Could you get her a new game? How about a sudoko book?

 

[Vijoge]

Cd's, DVd's? Does she like crafts? My 11 y/o granddaughter loves the jewelry/bead crafts.

 

[Hasil72]

I know it's not very PC but what about a snack basket with her favorite chips, snacks, candy, etc? Kind of like the care packages you send college students. Sometimes they have little novelty items in them like Mad Libs, stickers, etc.

 

[java]

Basket of stuff it is! I am going ds game- small craft idea and some snacks and magazines.Thank you very much for the ideas.

 

[mechurchlady]

There should be some crafty people out there who could make her a hypoallergenic plushie. I doubt she would want a real fur one so maybe there is yarn out there she is not allergic to that can be used to crochet a stuffed animal. How about a cloth doll but with hypoallergenic filling? I used to make book marks that had googley eyes and was like a curly snake.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I noticed on the Build-A-Bear Workshop Web site they sell hypo-allergenic stuffed animals. Ask the child's mother before you buy one if they would work for her daughter.

Ask your daughter if her friend is into any specific thing, like animals or crafts or art or games or movies or music. You can find something based on that/those themes.

You could also extend the child's happiness by giving her a "gift certificate" for a day out with your daughter when the child is better from the surgery.

Do check packaging for latex warnings - it can be in things you wouldn't have thought of right off the bat. (And remember NO balloons! They are latex! Mylar balloons [the silver foil ones] might be fine, but I don't know much about latex allergies so ask first.)

Also realize the mother is undergoing a lot of stress right now - everybody with a family member facing surgery or illness does, whether they show it or know it or not. So, you may want to do something/get something special for the mother, even if it is something small just to show you care and are thinking of her.

Additionally, if there are any siblings of this girl, you may want to get them something small, as well. They're not getting as much attention due to their sister's surgery, so will be glad to be remembered/noticed.

And, remember, besides the allergens, you can't go wrong - anything is better than just sitting in the hospital doing nothing!

 

[java]

Also realize the mother is undergoing a lot of stress right now - everybody with a family member facing surgery or illness does, whether they show it or know it or not. So, you may want to do something/get something special for the mother, even if it is something small just to show you care and are thinking of her.

Additionally, if there are any siblings of this girl, you may want to get them something small, as well. They're not getting as much attention due to their sister's surgery, so will be glad to be remembered/noticed.

What a great idea I didn't even think about her brother. On Monday I am calling to offer to have him stay here! (My son is friends with him)
And I know she is stressed too. She is trying not to show it but I can see she is scared. I am going to send along something for her too(she is religious so I am thinking something guardian angel like) Thank you so much!!

 

[bzzymom]

DS is 11 and would definately like to take a portable dvd player with him as well as his nintendo ds.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

The sleepover for the brother with your son sounds like a wonderful idea! I'll bet they'll have a good time together and it will give both the mother and the brother a break.

 

[Coll0610]

Maybe drop off a meal at the hospital or at their house? If Mom is spending a lot of time at the hospital with her daughter, she might appreciate having a meal that doesn't come from the cafeteria. Even if she's not at the hospital all the time, she won't have time to cook and would probably appreciate a meal dropped off at the house.