ways to help a friend whose DD has Hodgkins lymphoma?

[danae]

Message withdrawn

Anything in the way of practical support is really what is needed. For example - washing, ironing, cooking and baking would probably be welcome. What about offering to do a shop? Perhaps you could offer to co-ordinate a telephone update service for friends? It is exhausting to be constantly answering the telephone whenever you have spent all day at the hospital and just want to sleep. How about offering lifts to and from the hospital? the cost of parking at hospital is crippling. Also - if the child is in hospital, CDs are nice to listen to - holding a book can be a pain if you have got an IV stuck in your arm.

Hope all goes well - the prognosis for hodgekins is usually quite good.

Message withdrawn

I work in a hospital, so will try to find out more about the current treatment etc. Also - I am sure cards and letters from school friends etc would be nice. I guess visitors would have to be arranged according to whether his dd felt up to it. However - he can't be there all the time,and even if his ex will be there some of the time, maybe you could offer to keep his dd company so he could have a break. He might appreciate being invited for the occasional meal - if it is convenient?

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

danae, I am sorry to hijack this thread slightly but I wondered if you knew what your friend's dd's symptoms were? My ds's consultant called me on wednesday-following weeks of bood tests etc-and said there was a possibility of lymphoma in ds (4); as you can imagine we're devestated but wondered if their symptoms are similar?
I'd be very grateful if you could let me know; I will, of course, understand completely if you jsut want to ignore me and concentrate on your own feedback

my brother had hodgkins many years ago. his symptoms started with a small lump in his neck which refused to go away.the doctor kept telling him it was only a swollen gland,eventually after 4 months my brother asked for a second opinion.Another of his symptoms was he had very bad night sweats.He went through a tough time but im happy to tell you he is still here 30yrs later.And of course treatment is so much more advanced now.good luck

I think you've been given excellent advice thus far.

May I just add that there is a book you may want to read called "What can I do to help?" by Deborah Hutton.

ready meals. whenh dh was in hospital, i found it really hard after getting home to prepare meals. i was just physcially exhausted.

see if they have freezer space and try and get some meals in. or home cooked meals frozen ,whcih he can just bung in the oven.

an indirect way of helping is becoming a blood donor if possible, if he is having chemo then he by having it every other week for about six months (the adults do not sure about kids and if his counts drop then will need transfusing

so your pint will add to the stock