Stuff for long hospital stay.....

[krcit]

I posted another thread about having a good friend being diagnosed with leukemia the other day. She goes into the hospital this week and will be in for at least a month. I ahve organized meals/childcare with all the neighbors and friends but now I want to get her somethings for the hospital. I was thinking some comedy DVD's by her favorite comedians and maybe some warm fuzzy socks and a comfy throw. I also found a book on foods to eat during cancer treatment(she has mentioned wanting to change her diet to a more healthy, anti-cancer one) Any other ideas? Has anyone been through this and have any helpful ideas for me? Thanks

 

[rie'smom]

Books-they take me away from my problems and transport me to a different place.
Hard candies to suck on.
Does she have a hobby that she can work on in the hospital-crochet, drawing, scrapbooking,etc?

 

[piglet too]

Puzzle books and pencils.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I agree with the pp: books!

Hospitals are very boring. Basically, the only thing to do is lie in bed. If your friend likes reading, get her books. I really enjoyed sudoku and word search books as well as easy reads. (ie books you really don't have to think about).

Also, make sure her room will have a dvd player/vcr. If it doesn't have one, the movies will be useless.

CDs are great too. Hospitals are noisy and having something enjoyable to listen to can help.

batteries for the cd player are useful too

Make sure she has a robe. It's really uncomfortable walking around in pajamas or those hospital gowns.

Visit her. Hospitals are lonely sad places (often times) and sometimes just a visit from a friend or loved one will help. (Though call ahead, she may not feel up to it )

This is a really thoughtful thing you are doing.

 

[krcit]

Thanks for the ideas!! She is an artist so I'm thinking a sketch pad and pencils. I'm pretty sure that she will have her laptop with a DVD player otherwise I have a portable one I can give her.

 

[Hannathy]

candy or cookies to have on hand to give to visitors or staff. If her kids will be coming to visit then some stuff for them cookies they like and Mom would know, their favorite candy so she can treat and baby them. If they are little a few small toys she can surprise them with when they get restless.

My friend who died from Leukemia had a digital photo frame in her room with all kind of pictures from her kids baby and growing up pictures, pictures of her as a young woman to current ones. It gave her something to look at and was a great conversation starter. because even if you know the person or are related after they have been in a long time it gets hard to keep up conversations. Plus it gives you a chance to make sure your kids know all the family stories.

Games like Uno, Yatzee that she can play with her family.

a camera for her laptop so she can skype with her kids and friends when they can't come if you want to spend a bit more, they aren't bad.

 

[Hannathy]

A nice notebook but not so nice that no one wants to use it, lol, to be kept outside of the door so folks can write messages if they come and she is out of the room or not feeling well enough to have visitors.

 

[diz4ever]

I have a friend going thru this right now. We got her a kindle and a gift card for amazon so she could get some books. She is a reader and really loved the gift. Kind of expensive, but perhaps several people could chip in if they wanted to. BTW - she found out today her sister is a 10 out of 10 bone marrow match (kind of unheard of), so things are definitely looking up.

 

[dakcp2001]

Chapstick and lotion. The hospital is a very dry place. I think it makes the room look and feel much more homey with your own colorful blanket or throw and your own slippers, just make sure the bottoms are non skid the floors are slippery.

An ipod or some music is nice to help drown out the noise. Hard candy can help get rid fo the icky tasting meds, but only if she is allowed to have it. Pens, paper, and stamps so she can write letters if she gets bored.

Magazines, books, crossword puzzles and other things are helpful.

 

[jx3smom]

hand lotion, magazines, lip lotions, nail file, warm socks

 

[Aimeedyan]

When I was last hospitalized, it was following surgery so I didn't use 10% of the stuff I brought with me. However, I couldn't live without warm fuzzy socks, chapstick, face wipes when I couldn't get up to wash my face, nice hand cream, my laptop, and magazines.

The BEST thing that people did to boost my spirit was to decorate my room. I work with children, so mine decor was all made by them, but they strung a garland around the top of the bed, hung posters on the walls, put cards all over the windowsill, etc. Someone knit me a blanket and we hung it over the recliner. Every hospital staff that came in mentioned something about the room and how cheery it was. It might sound juvenile but when you're stuck in the same boring hospital room that long, it's nice to have some personal touches around to remind you that you are loved (esp if you can't or aren't up to many visits).

Good luck to your friend!

 

[TaraPA]

a deck of cards, magazines & lots of company (if she's up for it!)

 

[LuvOrlando]

I was in the hospital for an extended period while I was having my premature daughter and to tell the truth, the thing that bothered me most was that my room would get messy and I was too weak to clean it up & straighten things out. The nurses aids made sure things were sanitary but not neat. That was the most depressing part for me so if I had a friend in the hospital I would offer to straighten things up.

 

[scbelleatheart]

If she has a laptop there are a ton of computer games that can kill hours at a time. The hidden object/ Mystery ones. I bought one at Walmart the other day and the clerks nearby were starting to tell me other ones they all love. Not very taxing but entertaining for long periods of time.
I get them online now because they are cheaper and you still own them forever and can try them out for an hour free to see if you like them or not. My Dr reccommended them after eye surgery to strenghten the eye muscle and now I'm hooked.
www.bigfishgames.com is where I get them instead of hard purchases.

 

[tiggger1]

If she has a laptop there are a ton of computer games that can kill hours at a time. The hidden object/ Mystery ones. I bought one at Walmart the other day and the clerks nearby were starting to tell me other ones they all love. Not very taxing but entertaining for long periods of time.
I get them online now because they are cheaper and you still own them forever and can try them out for an hour free to see if you like them or not. My Dr reccommended them after eye surgery to strenghten the eye muscle and now I'm hooked.
www.bigfishgames.com is where I get them instead of hard purchases.

love bigfishgames!!!

 

[minkydog]

The BEST thing that people did to boost my spirit was to decorate my room. I work with children, so mine decor was all made by them, but they strung a garland around the top of the bed, hung posters on the walls, put cards all over the windowsill, etc. Someone knit me a blanket and we hung it over the recliner. Every hospital staff that came in mentioned something about the room and how cheery it was. It might sound juvenile but when you're stuck in the same boring hospital room that long, it's nice to have some personal touches around to remind you that you are loved (esp if you can't or aren't up to many visits).

Good luck to your friend!

I second this suggestion. My DH was hospitalized right a Christmas a couple years ago. On top of being very ill, he was depressed. He was way too sick to read or listen to books on tape, let alone do puzzles. I took some decorations up to him, things like a flameless candle that cast a soft light in the evenings, a little light up tree(you could give her a little battery operated Jack O-Lantern), cards taped to the door frame, pix of the kids, His own pillow, and cookies and a box of chocolates for the staff. Not the same as home but better than looking at beige walls for 2 weeks.

 

[krcit]

Thanks for the suggestions!! Please keep them coming. I will definitely decorate her room, I have tons of pics of her kids on my camera so I will get a few of them framed. I'll get some Halloween stuff. I'll make sure to bring goodies for the staff whenever I visit her.

I just want to ease her burden however I can. I can't take away her physical pain but I hope I can at least help her emotionally. Just love her so much

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Calling cards?My grandmother was in after knee replace surgery and she liked to be able to call people whether it be long distance or not so we got her calling cards.
Oh Id say a photo album of her family to keep her spirits strong and remember the good things in life.

 

[Aneille]

My Mom is a Leukemia survivor and she had a stem cell transplant. There were many restrictions on what she could/could not have in her room and on her floor due to the transplant. So before you get it all together double check with her hospital floor. It was a pretty extensive list. I remember definitly no flowers.

My kids brought in some pictures they had drawn at school and we decorated her room with pictures. We also got her a stuffed animal at Build A Bear and had the grandkids all tell her they love her on the voice recording. I can't remember if she could keep that in her room or not. I believe we did get the okay for that though.

After she got home she couldn't leave her home much due to risk of infection and couldn't be around the kids so we got a webcam so the grandkids could see her. This might be an option for the hospital if they have the service to use it.

She read books, gifts for the nurses whom she came to love and have relationships with, crosswards, word searches etc. We also brought in audio books because reading can be hard work when you are so tired. Also got her handheld solitare. They have all kinds of these type of games at Walmart. There were some special snacks too that we were able to bring in.

It is so nice your doing this for her. I wish her all the best.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We've had several cancers and surgeries in the family lately.

The favorite items were magazines, books, and Itunes gift cards (for music for an ipod), flowers, and a small fan to place on the little table (the one that rolls over you in the bed) in case the room is stuffy. And of course visitors and phone calls were what they loved (like others said- when they are feeling up to it!).

How nice of you to do all this- Having a good friend will certainly help them get through this!