Here are just a few ideas of things that you can give to someone who is fighting cancer, undergoing treatment or surgery.
1. Your time – spend time with your friend. Talk about normal, everyday things. How work is going, how the kids are doing, your favorite tv shows.
2. Your ear – listen to your friend whenever he/she needs to talk about what they are going through.
3. Errand Running – if your friend is not feeling well, the thought of running errands may be very difficult. Offer to pick up groceries, drive the kids to their extra curricular activities. Or, offer to drive them to the bank, doctors appointments etc.
4. Cook – Even if your friend has a great family and support system, it never hurts to have an extra hand around to help cook. Prepare a meal for the whole family that can be easily frozen. That way, if someone else had the same idea, yours can be saved for another evening.
5. Babysit – Offer a couple of hours of your time to take care of your friend’s children so that she/he can go to yoga, a book store, a spa … anywhere they want to have ‘me time’. Or maybe even so a husband and wife can have some alone time or a date.
6. A hand made gift – although flowers, plants, books, magazines are all great gift ideas, why not find something special that you can give your friend that will last and have special meaning. A knit hat or scarf, a blanket, jewelry, a photo album of fun times
7. Clean – If your friend has just had surgery, it may be difficult for them to move or find the energy to clean their home. Why not spend an hour helping with the dishes, vacuuming or sweeping. It gives you time to visit and to help out.
8. Small Thoughtful Gifts – If you know your friend goes for treatments every Thursday, why not stop by with a small gift to brighten his/her day? A card from friends at school or the office, craft supplies to pass the time if they are in the hospital for many hours, a magazine …
Please feel free to add comments with your ideas on what you can give to someone.
If you are a survivor, please tell us all about something that someone did or gave you that you remembered and was particularly special to you!
Hi this blog is great I will be recommending it to friends.
By: watcat on March 16, 2009
at 7:21 pm
TIME, TIME, TIME, oh and more TIME. There was nothing that delighted me more than when I was in the hospital and people came to see me… there were times when i was on pain meds that i don’t remember anyone being there but they were and they knew I wouldn’t remember… but for me and others i have talked to time is one of the most precious gifts you can give anyone.
By: Chris Olson on April 15, 2009
at 9:08 am