need ideas -- what to send to hospital to a child with cancer?

[mskayjay]

Get her some beads and findings to make earrings and bracelets, either seperately or kits. They won't take up much room, and she can give the finished projects to the friends she will make while there. It will keep her occupied and help the time to go faster.

This is a great idea! She can make little things for her fellow patients and the nurses she is bound to fall in love with. My son still remembers his two primary nurses and his big stay was 23 years ago at the age of 2 1/2!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Matt was 2 1/2 when they finally diagnosed him. They said I was a nervous mother and it was my fault that he was sick all the time????? Right..... He had an obstruction and by the time they found it....his left kidney has 46% function and the right one has 3% function (not 30%....3%.....). You'd never know it to look at him. Does really well and someday may need a transplant but so far, he's been very very blessed.

Glad to hear your wee one is okay. How scary! On his skull? Wow what they can do nowadays is just remarkable isn't it?

Yup, mom is always crazy, right??!! Unreal. I'm so glad that you stuck to it though and finally got him diagnosed. What an awful thing to go through. Let's hope they keep up the research and education people about organ donation just in case he ever needs it!!

My guy is doing great now. He has the most perfect skull I"ve ever seen. LOL. Our doctors were amazing (getting the insurance company to pay them what they deserve - or even close to it - don't get me started )!

 

[Donnainnj]

Unfortunatly this post is one that will help me to, as we just found out a good friend of my DD's (also an 11yr old girl, your little friend is not from NJ is she?) is in the same position. Even with an 11 year old in the house it is sometimes hard to think of what would work our the best for a hospital stay, and also something that she doesn't already have. Thank you for asking the question, and my prayers will be with your little friend as well as ours.
Donna

ok - we have a little friend (girl) who is 11 years old and is in the hospital. She has cancer and will be there for awhile.

I need to come up with a list of things we could send to her -- things that she could have in the hospital. (so nothing messy etc)

I am really short on time today so I'm hoping that two minds are better than one, so they say. (Or maybe 20 disboard minds are better than one.)

Can you help me make a list of things we may be able to get to send her. We don't have to mail it -- it can be delivered in person.

Ideas? Anyone have an 11 year old girl and can tell me what's "in" or "fun" or appropriate? (and, as always, on a budget)

Thank you so much!

 

[chris1gill]

J14 magazine
Crossword puzzles or something of that nature
I agree on scrapbook kind of supplies
And if she can eat, always include chocolate

 

[AwaitingMagic]

My daughter has a friendship bracelet kit that she spends hours doing. It's a book (we got it at Barnes & Noble) - it has a clip to hold the embroidery floss and you braid the bracelets. She loves it!! With a bunch of different colors of embroidery floss, I bet this little girl would like to make bracelets for her nurses, friends, etc.. I wish her the best - she is in my prayers.

 

[xanman]

I just got my Family Fun Magazine and they show a bracelet kit that uses embroidery floss. I did a quick search, it gets good reviews and would be easy and inexpensive to buy more floss for. Here is an Amazon link, although it shows up on Taget etc. too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009S5U08/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
found a neat video too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWlVhBOqkuo

 

[CharityLynn]

At Barnes & Nobles, I saw thse little scratch off game books, they had hangman, Deal or no deal, they looked like fun to me. They also have random humorous books. If you are familiar with LOLCats, they have a book similiar to that. Something about Stuff on Cats heads or something.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

HI again.

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but a little autograph book might be nice. There are many other kids in the same boat. Some will come while she's there, some will leave, etc. She may make some friends and it will be nice to get siggies and possibly pen-pal info from them.

 

[englishteacha]

My students love books like I Spy, World Records books, trivia, and books with shorter articles like Chicken Soup for the Soul. Even my non-readers like them. I'd suggest games 2 people can play like Uno, Sorry, etc. They have themed Uno cards. I have a Harry Potter set.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I second the camera idea. My Nephew took lots of photos in the hospital and loved to show them to us on the camera!!!
For the parents see if you can buy a few parking tokens. I know when we are there with DS the parking is not free and it ends up costing us $$$$$$$.
Maybe offer to go to her school and pick up work or cards from the class. Make sure it is ok with the parents and have them call ahead. We went to DS classroom and we recorded messages from his classmates. He enjoyed watching them. Again, you would have to make sure you have Mom and Dad and teacher's permission.

 

[wendygrace]

We spent seven months in the hospital but my hospital kid was a five year old boy so I'll give you some ideas for the parents that really helped/would have helped us.

Call the hospital and find out who delivers to them. Get them gift cards to these places. The hospital may also allow you to buy cafeteria units/cards/dollars/whatever that will allow the family to eat for free. These are usually kinda like "disney dollars" or sometimes they are "meal vouchers". They may do this for the parking garage as well.

Someone sent us a "snacks pack" from hasbro.com. Chips, crackers, and other dried goods that are easy to keep in the car and we'd be able to grab quickly in a hurry.

Warm socks and eye masks. Warm blankets. Travel pillow. If they are sleeping in the room with the child (or nearby). Hospital friendly nightwear. either pjs or sweats. slippers.

crossword puzzles/sudoku/etc.

notebook and pen

Day planner with lots of places to keep notes. This was invaluable to me as I was able to keep track of what meds were given on what day at what time. Address book to keep track of all the doctors and specialties and their primary nurse and/or assistant, etc. All in a handy dandy planner that zips up and has a handle.

Backpack.

book light and a good book or two

Do a yellow pages search as to what businesses are nearby and gather ideas from there. If there is a spa nearby, a spa certificate. A bookstore? a gift card. Fast food or restaurant. you get the idea. Try to stay within walking distance if possible.

Letters or emails just to let them know you are thinking about them.

Also, let them know about Carepages.com. Its a great place to keep everyone updated about what is going on and is as private as they want it to be.

If they have a laptop, a computer game like sims or some equally mindless game for those late nights.

chocolate or other good candy.


HTH

 

[hopesmommy]

How about photos of family and friends? If you can afford it, you could load a digital picture frame. Take serious shots and funny/crazy shots. Maybe have the kids make a sign and hold it in the pic, then give it to her too.

Makeup/nail polish - she is getting to that age where she "must" look good. If she does not know how to use it, then she could practice and/or mom could show her. Make sure to send makeup remover cloths. She might not feel like getting out of bed.

Bubbles - If it is allowed by the hospital. Bubbles bring a smile to everyone's face.

I volunteer at my DD's elementary school library. Here are a list of books the kids asked the librarian to get:
Warrior series
Candy Apple Books
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
My New Best Friend and My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe
Twilight series

I hope she gets to feeling better real soon!

 

[scrapquitler]

A pillowcase made from a fun fabric, a nice pair of slippers, a bathrobe, crayons and a coloring book, a quilt, a handheld game of some sort or an mp3 player.

For the parents: gift certificates for restaurants (including places like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, Subway), spa gift certficate for Mom, pay the cell phone bill, babysit their other kids.

 

[cinderelladreams27]

How about a fun pillowcase? My mom has a little side business selling all kinds of styles, colors, characters, etc. I can pick one and send it to you if you'd like. At no cost of course. Just PM me with your address & any of her "likes" that you know of if you'd like me to mail you one. They're so cute! Sold like hot cakes for Christmas.

 

[elf]

I agree with cards to the cafeteria. My friends had no money when their 5 yr. old son had cancer and less than usual due to her taking a leave of absence because of his illness. As you can imagine someone was with him all the time. I think a bag for the parents is a great idea, books, gift cards to the cafeteria, itunes, borders or so they can buy there own books, small blanket, snack food, longer lasting fruits like apple and oranges, drinks, breath mints, toothbrush, gum)

What really helped my freinds and costs little money is dinners for their freezer over time. It really helped my friends to have meals in their freezer. Between work, hospital, and taking care of other child it's hard to fit in shopping and cooking.

My daughter is 11 and I'll tell you that overnight she went from having her walls filled with Jonas Bros./Miley posters to Twilight posters. So double check what she likes. Mine still loves the Tween gossip magazines that are in the larger grocery stores.. On chemo she maybe tired some days with enough energy to read smaller artlcles.

If she has a IPOD and somewhere to charge and load songs an itunes card would be good so she can get audiobooks, movies, music and tv.

 

[kato0627]

I am a Pediatric RN. So thoughtful of you to be trying to help your friend.
There were lots of great ideas posted.

I think a great idea is a basket full of bath/body products along with nail products. It is nice to give in a basket/caddy so that she has somewhere to keep everything. Bedside tables get small really quick.

Special slippers, a warm fun blanket would provide her and mom with some at home comfort.

Activity books, craft supplies and the braclet idea was great.

Snacks are always fun. Hard candy, gum, gummy bears etc. Hot Choc packets, tea bags etc as most units have a microwave mom can use.

Most of all, provide mom/dad with visits. Sitting in a room all day gets really old very quick. When you go, try and take a fun meal. Everyone loves Panera Bread. The family really needs love and support. The company you give them is the best gift ever.
Hugs and prayers to your friend.

 

[geetey]

What about a Webkinz or would an 11 yr old be too old for that? With computer access, they can play online and have a nice stuffed animal to snuggle.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How sad. I have two 11 yr olds.

Having gone through chemo myself and being a nurse, here's what I'd suggest.

A nice blanket themed with something she loves - my kids love these and use them every day. Great for the hospital.

One of these sound machines. (Maybe several people could pitch in one one.) Insomnia is common during chemo (meds, nausea, worries, pain, plus the sounds of the hospital) and this might help her relax.

A large digital photo frame loaded with her favorite pictures of friends, family, pets, schoolmates, etc.

Gift cards for gas and food for the parents. (Check to see what's around or in the hospital.) Parking fees, gas for travel, food costs really add up during a prolonged hospital stay.

So nice of you to care!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Wanted to add, like the camera idea, but would suggest a digital camera. Most likely will have a laptop (another thing maybe a group could pitch in for if she doesn't already have one?) to watch DVDs and do email, etc. Could have fun with the digital camera w/ laptop, too.