Asking this question for my brother-in-law: He has a friend in another state who has been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer and is going through chemo. He isn't super close with her, but has known her since high school. He would like to send something to her to show support - any ideas?
I have an Aunt going through chemo now.
I am going to order my Aunt a tea or spa gift basket. It contains items that will soothe her poor body as it goes through this fight. That and a nice card will be perfect.
http://www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com/gift_basket_list.as...
I agree that the most important thing to send is a card with a handwritten note inside.
Otherwise, DVDs or CDs are a good idea. It would help if he knew her interests and taste, though; if he does not, he could check to see if there is (for example) a Barnes and Noble in her area, and he could send her a gift card for that, saying he hopes she'll use it for books, DVDs or CDs to keep herself busy and upbeat when she's tired. I know a gift card is pretty impersonal sounding and if he knows anything at all about her interests he could key a DVD gift to that, or just send her a set of comedy movies on DVD for general laughs.
I would not send a fresh fruit bouquet, or a fruit basket, as someone suggested. Folks undergoing chemo often are told they must be extremely cautious about eating uncooked foods like fruits and raw vegetables and salads, due to the greater susceptibility to illness that they have while taking chemo. If he sends a food gift it needs to be something packaged like nuts or candy, not fresh fruit, which she may not be allowed to eat right now.
My friend / business partner loved cards, itunes, gift cards so she could download movies to her ipad, packages of thin crisp cookies, herbal teas.
One client sent her a "prayer blanket". It was a sweet soft blanket the size of a baby blanket, that the women of her church laid hands on and prayed over. She took this to her chemo sessions for her shoulders.
Just letting her know you are thinking of her, really seems to be the best thing.
Definitely a card with a hand written note. I would say a gift card for a restaurant the has take out (as long as there is someone that can go get it for her). Then cooking isn't an issue. Make sure that there is a restaurant near her - like Applebees you can search to make sure one is near her home. Also a place like Applebees that has a wide variety of choices, not just something like a mexican restaurant that may not settle right in her stomach. Chemo affects everyone's tastebuds differently. I know that for my mom she said jelly tasted horrible to her ( she LOVES toast and jelly normally) and craved acidic things like tomato sauce.
I think, if they are not that close he should just show her that he is thinking of her and maybe just send some flowers.
Note & card & flowers ( if she isn't neutropenic).
A card and note would be nice. One of my friends has been going through chemo and a bunch of us went in together to get her a gift certificate to Whole Foods and I took over a family meal from the Prepared Foods department (I work there, so it was super convenient). But it was nice because she has family coming in to help and keep her company, etc. but I know that sometimes it was just easier for them not to have to cook and to just take a meal out of the freezer- or on the occasions where my friend did have a taste for something ( a lot of the time she wasn't eating much) they had the gift card and could just run over and get some strawberries or sorbet or whatever she felt like she could eat. I hope this helps- it is such a difficult time, but I think a practical gift is always really appreciated.
I would send a card with positive uplifting quotes and if money isn't an issue a basket of soaps/lotions for sensitive skin. When my sister went through chemo she was warned she would find regular soaps harsh on her skin and the soaps for sensitive skin are quite expensive. Hope your BIL's friend is comforted.
If he's not close enough to her to know her interests and what she'd like I also suggest sending a card with positive comments, perhaps remembering things they did together way back when. Or send flowers. They are always appropriate.
If he knows her interests or hobbies send something related to those. I don't know how much energy she has. That might make a difference in what he sends. If she reads but hasn't much energy perhaps a book on CD, if she has a player. Most DVD players will play CDs. He could send her a gift card for a food treat. Or send her a fruit bouguet. I can't remember the company name or how to spell bouguet. lol
Note: if chemo is causing her to always be nauseous then food wouldn't be a good idea but I think that sometimes there are days without nausea.
I've had lung cancer and my cousin recently died from cancer. We both continued to live as much like we'd always lived making adjustments when energy or pain levels changed. My cousin enjoyed getting out for lunch with friends. He spent a lot of time on the computer and bought an e-reader. Those were his interests. Even when he didn't have an appetite because of chemo he still enjoyed eating with friends and liked for me to buy something special to try to tempt his appetite. A fruit bouguet would do that.
My cancer wasn't so serious but what is related to your bil's friend is the need for people to be sympathetic, yes, but to also treat me as the same person I'd always been.
