Like Mama L. I've put off something that HAS to be done now!! A close friend of mine at work is going into the hospital on Monday donating a kidney to her hubby. She really is one of my closest friends at work, but it's not like we get together after work or anything like that. She's super busy with her husband & his dialysis, her kids, etc. & I'm busy with my family too..plus she & I both work 40-45 hours a week.
Anyway...I'd like to get her something for her hospital stay and I'd have to take it to her TONIGHT! They have to leave for the hospital early tomorrow (the hospital is out of town). So I need your help on gift ideas..pajamas, books..that's all I can come up with. Do you have any other ideas? I really would like to stay at $30 or less. I have a habit of spending too much for gifts & I don't want to do that, I don't want to make her feel weird or anything. I just want to do something special for her, she confides a great deal to me & has been thru alot with his illness.
So, help me...what would you suggest??
I'm going to take a quick shower & go shopping. Great suggestions & I'll check back to see if there are more ideas after my shower! Thanks so much!
Since it looks like her and her DH will be out of commision I would get a gift card for a place that delivers that they can use when they get home. O loved getting those when I was in the hospital.
Can you get a basket at walmart/target and fill it with essentials - travel soap, lotion, shampoo, bottled water, wash cloth, bed slippers, magazine, tea bags, etc) just a few things she might need on the way or in the hospital
Offer to make her dinner after she gets home from the hospital. Or mow her lawn while she's gone, water her plants, get mail, etc.
A light weight house coat, dressing gown. They will want her to walk. They do not always let you wear your own pajamas, but will let you wear a house coat.
Maybe some house slippers with grips on them.
An inexpensive watch, so she does not have to take her good watch. Good, no scented lotion.
Tell her we are all sending her good thoughts.
I love Amom2's idea of a gift basket. Fill it with travel size essentials, (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, etc. that you can get for a $1 or so) and maybe some fragrance items to make her feel special, Bath and Body is a great place for travel sizes of items that smell divine and are sometimes on sale. I've put together gifts of lotion, shower gel, body mist, hand care items and more for under $30, they even sell the gift bags. Whenever I've received something like this it's always made me feel special.
Magazines.
A bunch of assorted magazines.
Personally, I never buy magazines nowadays... it is so expensive. So I am really grateful when someone gives them to me... as gifts.
Being at the hospital, she can read the magazines. And maybe with a cute tote bag, to carry it in.
And with a nice short note, telling her you care and she is in your thoughts.
My late Dad was on dialysis etc. but he died before he could get a kidney transplant.
Her Husband will need to recuperate and recover and go to many Doctor appointments etc. after. And she will need to care for him etc.
It is busy and tiring. And he will maybe, be on a restricted diet.
AND SHE will be recovering and recuperating too.
I hope they have people at home, who will be helping them.
Maybe... you can help her at home, with her kids??? And chores/errands/cooking????
Or in addition to the magazines, get her some gift cards for Starbucks etc.
But I imagine, after he Hubby gets out of the hospital, she will not have much time to go out... or out for long. Because she will be care taking for her Husband. And she has to recuperate. Thus, not doing much. Thus, reading magazines, can really help.
All the best.
I would not give her something or too many stuff.... at the hospital. Because remember, she and/or her Husband, will have to TOTE all that stuff from the hospital, back home when they are discharged.
So maybe, offer to drive them to the hospital and back home, when she/they are discharged. Because, after having surgery, and being in pain, I am sure walking to the parking lot, and going to the hospital parking lot, and carrying all their stuff, and driving back home, will be arduous.
I'm a big fan of Edible Arrangements fruit bouquets. Maybe send it to her after the surgery vs. before?
Another after-surgery delivery idea would be a Vermont Teddy Bear.
If you want to do something before, than maybe jammies/or a book would be nice. A gift card for a mani/pedi for after?
Think of what she likes and would appreciate and go from there.
