Present needed for my mum

[tots2ten]

My mum has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.

I normally buy her slippers and my sister, brother and myself all buy her something that she wants/needs for the house. But it doesnt seem right this year, and now we are stuck,

Ideas that so far have been mentioned:

spa day (but mum wont come out of the house other than for doctor/hospital appointments)

a short break (weekend break, but not sure if she would go)

they need a new carpet for the lounge (but its doesnt seem right as a xmas present)

We even thought about buying a food/chocolate hamper, but she wont be there as we are having a big family xmas at my house.

we cant buy her a book, because the tumour is pressing against nerves and is reducing her eyesight.

Any ideas??

I'm sory to hear your bad news. Hdd the same thing with my mum many years ago and must admit my first thought when she was diagnosed was "What do you buy someone for Christmas who has lung cancer?" Trouble is it was so long ago I can't remember what we got her!

I'm guessing she's not feeling her best so a professional family photo session wouldn't do it for her? Could she cope with someone coming to her house to do a massage or a beauty treatment? What about restaurant vouchers if a weekend away is too much for her?

I wonder if she'd appreciate the normality and like slippers and something for the house?

Large print books are fab - my grandma had eye problems and loveed them.

Good luck and Merry Xmas

Thank you both for replying. I am sorry to hear about your mum, thehouseofmirth.

I am not sure how she would cope with having someone to the house. will ask her about it though as dont want to just surprise it on her.

mumblecrumble, it doesnt seem right buying her 'normal' xmas stuff if that makes sense.

We have bought slippers, a photo frame.

I have spoken to my sister and I think we are going to get a photo done of all the grand-children with my sister, brother and myself in aswell.

Sorry to hear about your mum, I would second the audio book idea, when my nan's eyesight started to fail I bought her loads, everything from Kate Adie to Austen. Try www.audible.co.uk, you can buy a 'subscription' to download an audio book every month for a year. MP3 player & speakers so she can take it with her if she has to stay in hospital for treatment....

i second the audio cd idea. also how about a voucher for a haircut at a posh salon. also, you could do a hamper which isnt all foodie stuff- audio cd, slippers, a nice blanket, some chocs, some nice tea or coffee for when she is at home, some posh smellies etc. all placed lovingly into a nice hessian bag from one of the supermarkets, so she can re-use it for shopping.

Sorry to hear about your mum. The audio book idea sounds great. My MIL used them alot when she was very ill.

Digital photo frame?

I like the mp3 idea, thank you, will have a look at the website.

never thought about a non-food hamper, will talk to my sister again, and see what we can sort out,

Hi,
Sorry about your mum, mine had ovarian cancer a couple of years ago & its rough. Here are my thoughts, hope one is of some help.

-Avoid presents that focus on appearance ie skincare & make up

-Someone bought my mum a woolly hat as she lost her hair through chemo, & I wasn't sure at first but she loved it

• For Christmas we made homemade fudge & DS decorated it all by himself with coloured icing & little silvery balls

• Thinking about it we did tend to stick to home made things, DS made a picture that we cut into a photo frame & we had one of those calendars with personalised photos in.

Going back to the 70s when I was little, we had a grandma who lived a way away & couldnt hear very well so me & my sister made a cassette tape for her. It was of us playing our recorders, & the piano & singing etc

Sorry to hear about your Mum.

I don't know whether this may be too 'illness-related' or not but how about some really luxurious pyjamas/dressing gown. Really soft, the type you can relax about the house in without looking as though you haven't got dressed iykwim.

Have been sent a catalogue through the post lately for a company called Hush who do the sort of thing I mean.