Gift for very ill friend?

[butteriesplease]

Hi looking for some ideas. One of my very best friends has just had a major op and it's been discovered that she also has cancer. It's totally crap . I live quite far away and want to send her a hospital-suitable gift until I can go and visit. What would be good? Nice lotions and potions? She'll be in hospital for a while yet.

Thank you.

Nice teabags as well - hospital tea has a terrible taste. I’d you send teabags she can ask just for hot water and milk and add her own.

For me the most wonderful gift would have been an eye sleep mark. The hospital lights go on so horribly early.

Other great things would be, dry shampoo, sweeties, sudoku

Oh yes sleep mask and ear plugs!

Most wards will give you a pack with a sleep mask and ear plugs in. I've been offered them several times but prefer my own.

Alongside the adult colouring books - a sudoku book?

Absolutely extra strength hand cream

A fan? Something cooling? Hospitals can be so warm

Dry shampoo if she's not feeling up to washing it regularly

Flip flops as ward may be too warm for slippers

Does she have a tablet with an internet connection? Might be worth looking st.

I really wouldn't get a reed diffuser or anything with a scent that will permeate beyond her bed, it could be very unpleasant for other patients (and staff). A big bag with long handles that she can hang off her table might be useful - there's not much room to put stuff within easy reach. Wet wipes for the loo? Slippers?

So many more great ideas! I quickly sent nice hand cream, some lip balms and face wipes as a small care package. Parcel 2, hopefully to be delivered in person , will incorporate some of the other things.

Thank you all xx

My Mum was in and my friend bought a reed diffuser which was really nice to have.

Surprised that was allowed, my DD gets terrible eczema if we have them in the house.

My Mum was in a side room.

Okay OP don’t get her a reed diffuser!

No reed diffuser!! Ok ! To be honest it would be a hazard - those bedside cabinets are small - I think it would gwt knocked over anyway. Poor friend is desperate to get home and then she'll find out re treatment plan.

My mum died of cancer earlier this year so it's hit me extra hard.

small packs of tissues
nice large personal wash bag type thing
micro towel - ie microfibre and good at drying body, small as doesn't need to be big but also dries quickly after use
puzzle book and pen - something you don't have to engage brain with too much like wordsearch or cross words you can pick up and put down
couple of fiction books in paperback
moisturiser - just a good one not nec a posh one as skin and lips dry out as you say.
Dry shampoo
Wash wipes
some of those little tiny mouth fresh mints in packs
Nice Squash
snack bars or indiv packets of biscuits
Satsumas are good for bit of fruit/vit c/freshen you up
Light shawl in nice fabric
Slightly bigger some PJs or a decent nighty
Slippers
Lipsalves
Nail scissors and file and maybe some cuticle oil etc

If you want to go bigger
MiFI type set up for own wifi via mobile network
Light weight dressing gown
light blanket - no weight to it but warm