special gift for child in hospital

[bellebud]

OK, so I've posted this on a couple other appropriate boards here (caring/compassion and disAbilities), and got some answers, but I thought maybe someone here could help too (this board is a bit more active).

Our lifelong friends have just had their 6yo ds diagnosed w/ leukemia. He's going to be in the hospital for about 8 months (probably). They live in another state, and we are going to make the trip to see them sometime in January. His bday was just a couple of days ago, so we've got bday and xmas gifts we'll be wanting to bring.

His hospital room is tiny, he has lots of aunts/uncles/cousins and very close friends out where they live who have/are giving tons of gifts. He has an x-box and Wii cart available all the time, and his dad's work donated a big screen tv for the video games (to him, and it will then stay at the hospital). So he's pretty 'set' w/ typical gifts.

My thought was - he has lots of friends come and visit and play video games w/ him, almost on a daily basis. My first thought for something 'different' was if I could find a cool tattoo 'dispenser', he could use the tattoos himself whenever he wanted, and he could also offer his little friends something when they visit (it might make him feel nice to give them something). But then I read that tattoos might be a no-no for a chemo patient. Then I thought a sticker dispenser (so he's not putting them on his skin). But stickers are kind of boring. Then I thought one of those mini crane machines (my kids have had one, they're small) where you fill it w/ prizes (candy/tiny toys), and he can play w/ it, and let his friends play to get a prize. The one we had was ok, but hard to work sometimes (kinda cheap). My dentist's office has one of those treasure chests where the kids pick out a prize, but of course that's not "fun" like a crane machine.

Any other ideas? Money is no object, but space is (his tiny room). I'd love to find a tiny, "good" crane machine maybe.

But I'd appreciate any other thoughts (and prayers for him).

 

[Bluetickmom]

I have experience with this as my daughter spent almost 9 months inpatient during treatment for brain cancer. First, the tattoo's I would forgo. The skin is super sensitive while on certain chemo's.

Also, is he in patient for just chemo or is he in for a bone marrow transplant? I ask because if on transplant things that can be used and discarded are great like those mini tubs of playdoh. Or things that can be sanitized in a bleach bath like hot wheels.

Aside from that, the best thing we had was a portable DVD player so she could watch movies in bed without needing to lay where she could watch the tv. This also allowed us (the parents who lived in the room with her) some tv time of our own. Also, movies. You wouldn't believe how exciting it was to have something new to watch!!

I also have a an IPod that I loaded kid shows on. This was a life saver when going to other departments for procedures like MRI's, etc. Really helped with the anxiety.

Hope this helps

 

[vicb]

You are a good friend! I don't have any experience in this area (thank goodness) but a few ideas come to mind...

a couple of books that can be read to the child (you know longer novels that the child might not be able to read independently yet like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Magic Tree House boxed series...)

perhaps a board game (my kids loved Guess Who? at that age but there are so many)

card games like Uno and Go Fish

matchbox cars or little action figure set

crayola has so many cool coloring kids if he is into that at all

 

[bellebud]

Also, is he in patient for just chemo or is he in for a bone marrow transplant? I ask because if on transplant things that can be used and discarded are great like those mini tubs of playdoh. Or things that can be sanitized in a bleach bath like hot wheels.

thank you so much for your experienced-advice! How is your dd doing now?

They're not sure at this point if he's going to need the marrow transplant... his little brother is a match though , which was wonderful news!! Just yesterday his caringbridge update said that his bone marrow is starting to rise in numbers (something like that - I don't understand it all), but that it meant that his cells were doing the 'right' thing. Why the disposable things if he has to get bone marrow? Just so I can understand better...

Again, thanks soooo much!

 

[Agri]

They're not sure at this point if he's going to need the marrow transplant... his little brother is a match though , which was wonderful news!! Just yesterday his caringbridge update said that his bone marrow is starting to rise in numbers (something like that - I don't understand it all), but that it meant that his cells were doing the 'right' thing. Why the disposable things if he has to get bone marrow? Just so I can understand better...

If something is disposable, you can throw it away after each use instead of having it breed bacteria and other germs. You can't bleach play-doh, but its cheap enough that you can buy a bunch of the little containers that can be thrown away after each use.

To get a bone marrow transplant, they have to pretty much eradicate the patient's immune system, which means the simple things most people take for granted are off limits for months to the patient until they have begun recovering sufficiently.

 

[torinsmom]

Does he have enough controllers for his game system so he can play with all his friends? Or is there another game he might enjoy? Also, if money is not an issue, you could get him an Ipod Touch, if it would be okay with his parents. There are so many fun games for kids that you can put on there and he could listen to music, or play games when he isn't feeling well enough for the big game system.

Have you ever seen Perler beads? You can get them at Michael's, AC Moore, etc. You put little beads on a pegboard and when you are done, parents iron them and they stick together. The pegboards are reusable(and could be sanitized as well) You can download patterns online. The 5 year old boy I babysit for loves them, and we downloaded a big train for him to make. Took us over a week working together--he had the engine, coal car, log car, etc. etc. by the time we were done. Might be something he could do in bed on his table tray and something friends could do with him as well.

http://perler.eksuccessbrands.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&keyword=g+proper+names+v&gclid=CPP8kbnWjKYCFaRd7Aodkz6Mow

 

[tchrrx]

How about some cool pajamas and sweatsuits? That way he can be comfortable. And, maybe a neat baseball cap or stocking cap.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I can't think of any thing to bring him that hasn't already been mentioned but wanted to send Hugs and hope for a successful treatment for this little boy.

 

[akcire]

If he has internet access. I'd get him an I-pad. He can watch movies. It can be held in his hands, and his parents can use it too.

Six may sound young for this, but I see little kids 3-4 playing games on their parents I-phones all the time.

Also are his parents staying at a Ronald McDonald House? If one is available, they may want to look into that option--unless they live super close to the hospital.

I am an active local volunteer, with some national contacts. If they are not staying at the House, but would like to--send me a PM and I will do what I can to help.