Tips on what to send to someone just diagnosed with cancer to take into hospital/make them smile etc

[manamana]

My wonderful amazing dmil is going into hospital for a biopsy and further tests to establish the type and stage of cancer that she has. We live hundreds of miles away and have 3 kids so we can't pop up up and visit her to hug her in person and she probably won't fancy us all descending on her for a while. I don't want to be flippant and send silly things in the post but I do want to try and make her smile and give her something that it might be nice to have in hospital. Any ideas would be very helpful, I need to get it and get it in the post today/tomorrow. Thanks

How about a photo of the kids or pictures they have drawn, I'm sure she would appreciate that
Hope things go well for her

Thank you, yes plan to get them drawing after school, am hoping they'll be able to branch out from their normal pictures of mass destruction! Just wondered if anyone had anything they really loved in hospital, I guess its like the hospital bag list for when you're off to have a baby.

When I was in hospital with my son we loved having photos of the family all around the room so everywhere he looked he was surrounded by love - we were in for a loooong time so we could do this. The other great thing was having the ability to skypefreinds and family - it bought the outside world into the hospital room.

When my mum was in hospital all she wanted was a photo album of her grandchildren so she could talk to oeoe about them.

If you think an amusing book would be appropriate, this book is very funny, and because it's quotes you can dip in and out of it. We read our copy to bits.

One of the really nice things I've seen done for people is a special blanket, sort of cot blanket sized, either hand made, or a nice fleece or cashmere so they have something soft to cuddle through treatments. Literally covering them with love.

Nice hand cream, word searches, boiled/chewy sweets (esp sour ones), lip balm, magazine subscription, gift cards for Costa if theres one in the hospital, M&S voucher to be able to pick up ready meals without worrying about the cost also v popular