Thoughtful Gift Idea Needed for Seriously Ill Sister

I don't know too much about stage 4 breast cancer, but what about a recordable book or two - one for her to record her voice for her kids and/or grandkids? It'll be a gift for her to give to them, but it is very sentimental, esp if her illness is extremely serious/fatal.

Perhaps just sit down and write her a letter. Tell her all those wonderful things about her that you love, the special memories that make you laugh, and why she is so special to you. Some times no gift is needed, simple words to let someone know that you adore them, because that means more. That can keep a smile on her face. Just send her little notes all the time, so she receives one every day, that way she knows you are thinking of her all the time. Just an idea :)

I just recently lost my mom to Stage 4 breast cancer. Here are some gifts I gave her this last year:
- CD player, head phones, and inspirational CDs for cancer patients
- portable DVD player and a ton of movies (make sure they aren't about dying, cancer, etc...)
- puzzles
- crossword books
- socks (super fuzzy, soft ones)
- blanket (super fuzzy, sotf one)
Also, not sure what treatments she is getting, but offering to clean, grocery shop, or gift cards to restaurants that deliver food may help, too.
Just my two cents,
R.

A journal for her to record daily thoughts. Ask her of 12 of her all-time favorite tunes and pay a teen to download them to a cd for her to listen to. An enlarged 8x10 pic of 3 of her favorite folk (her parents, her first born, you and her, but let them be her idea of who are her favorites--not yours...).

At least she is talking about her illness. My dad is also in stage 4 and he is in denial so I cannot ask him for his thoughts, etc.

You sound like a superb sis. I love you for that. R

contact her kids and get them to email you tons of reat photos and then you can make a photo book with a thoughtful page of words in no time

how about a scrapbook of pics over the years
write a poem.

I just received an unexpected letter from my daughter and her 4 year old son....she asked K why he loved Grandma and then wrote down what he said about why he loves me....then she told me why SHE loves me...it made my day!!
I can only imagine that something like that would warm your sisters' heart!!!
The gift of love and time is the best thing you can give her....and laughter...I was with my Mother through the last stages of her ovarian cancer and I cannot tell you how healing it was to both of us to just LAUGH!!! The best time I remember was getting out several boxes of old family photos...most from when my Mother was a child.. and young adult...and listening to her tell me all about them...wonderful memories!!
I love the idea of giving her a way to record her memories and thoughts for her family...they would love to be able to hear her voice after she is gone!!! Wish I had done that with my Mom...the only time I hear her voice is in my dreams!!
God bless you and my prayers to you and your sister

What about...

- basic help with nutritious meals
- cleaning help around the home
- does she drink coffee/tea, then a Keurig type brewer is nice as only 1 cup is made at a time, so nothing goes to waste
- buy a session of Restorative Yoga classes for her
- anti-nausea candies, specifically ginger, or lemonade...ask her what helps.

I am sorry to hear about this level of cancer. I wish you lots of time to reminisce about your years together as sisters.

What about a letter to her from you of all the things you love about her?
Memories of you two that you hold dear?
Her attributes you adore?
Funny memories/times together (even if they are from when you were
kids?
Lastly.....end the letter w/lots of funny things that will make her laugh.

*Add a comedy movie DVD to make her laugh. (maybe 5 of them)

*Magazines. She may not have the attention span for long books but
may be able to thumb through magazines.

*Cozy socks

*Warm, fuzzy blanket

Prayers for you both!

My business partner who is also one of my very best friends is now also battling cancer. It is heartbreaking. She is being such a trooper. But she is so weak and is sometimes struggling to get around and of course eat. She tires easily and does need someone with her pretty much all of the time.

Out of everything she has been given that she really does use.. the ipad has been her most used item.

She was given an ipad.. It has been wonderful for her. She can really only sit in one chair.. it is a recliner. With the idpad, she can go online, play words with friends, watch video, she can do make calls take photos.

At Radiation and Chemo she has been able to have the ipad with her. She can journal, read the news download books.. Download magazines....Amazing.

I know they are expensive, but maybe a few of you can go in together and consider purchasing one.

Here are other things she has enjoyed.
Soft nightgown
cute hats
house shoes that are not slippers
A bath chair
A very lightweight robe
Very warm but light weight blanket
A reading light
thin small cookies
a house keeper that goes over once a week to do laundry and clean the bathroom and kitchen
a weekly massage
a weekly acupuncturist (her insurance now pays for this) she has a friend that drives her every week.
Bird feeder and Bird feed.. she keeps this outside on the porch so she can see them.
Super soft sheets.

Her world has become very small. It is the chair, in her living room, the potty and her bed.

IF she feels up to it, sometimes she will run a small errand with her husband.

They did go to a friends home 3 different times to watch the football games, but she actually slept the entire time. She said it was kind of nice to just be out of the house.

I am sending your sister strength.

http://www.zazzle.com/what_cancer_cannot_do_necklace_jewe...

http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Cancer-Cannot-Brace...

sending prayers your/her way!

One thing that you and your kids could do together would be a no sew tie fleece blanket. It is really easy (especially for those of us that are craft challenged), and you could have it done in a couple of hours. You could pick out a really cute pattern (they do have the cancer ribbon) and make it up. I do this for many people for a variety of reasons. They are useful and always loved since it was "hand-made"!! Something that your sister could curl up with and think of you every time!!

Something that I have done before that is very personable is to buy a star in her name. You get a map of where the star is and you get to name it.

A photo blanket. You can make a photo-collage blanket with pictures of family. She could snuggle up with it and see all of your loving faces.

You've been given some wonderful ideas. If you don't have time for a scrapbook, you could make a collage of pictures (poster style) and have it printed and framed so she can hang it where she can see it or you could make a calendar using family photos. When my sister was dealing with breast cancer, she really appreciated any help people could give her...meals, cleaning house, etc. I love the idea of writing notes to tell her what she means to you. You could write notes of favorite memories...things the two of you did. I also love the idea of giving her a way of writing or telling about herself for her family. Even though her kids are grown, there are many things they won't know about her and her life...especially her growing up years. This would be a way for them to get to know her even better. If she doesn't have the energy to write it down, give her a recording device so she can just tell her stories. There are lots of books out that are full of questions to help us remember wonderful stories from our past. One of those might assist her in getting started.

Theatre tickets/ certificate or a hotel gift card. I am sure the thing she wants most is experiences with her loved ones or opportunities to take her mind of things. Giving her something she could use to see something fun with you or her kids would probably be great.

So sorry for you and your family to be facing this.Best wishes.