Gift for Mum with terminal illness

[normalness]

A friend, but not close (not really close enough to phone and chat about this kind of thing), has just found out she'll die within a year. Her 2 children are under 5. I'd like to send her something to brighten up at least one day a bit, but am not sure what. She's trying to put things together so her kids will have memories of her (pictures, videos and things like that), so maybe something that would help.

Any ideas?

How incredibly

Your own suggestion is exactly what I was thinking. Can you have a get-together of close friends where everyone writes down favorite memories or something like that? Maybe they could surreptitiously go into another room one at a time during the party and then present it to her at the end.

Are you crafty normalness? Maybe she could do with some practical help in making a really beautiful scrapbook for her children. I'm no good at this but I gather there is quite an art to it and lots of specialist supplies of paper, decorations etc available.
What an awful situation I am so sorry

i remember reading an article written by a woman who knew she was dying and she said that the best gift she got was from a friend saying that she would make sure that her children would know who she had been, and that she had been fun. i'm not sure if you know her well enough to make that offer, though. scrapbook sounds lovely, as does the memories book, because its a fun thing rather than a 'my mum was sick' kind of thing. when my dad died it took a long time for the memories of his not being sick to return, and it did scare me that i would only think of him as sad and thin. of course i remember lovely things about him now, but i do recall worrying about it. kindest regards. Aitch

The problem is that I'm 1000s of miles away and we haven't seen each other since just before the kids came along. In fact, the last time was at a very glamorous big party when we were all happy newlyweds with so much fun ahead. I can't believe what's happened. I really want to show some mummy solidarity.

How about a couple of pretty boxes for her to put her memory items into for her children. Or photo albums?

How truely sad

Aitch, just saw your message. I might have a photo from that party actually. I might work around that.

What about a letter talking about the good times. You could put in some photos. She could keep it for her children to read.

Very sad.

tbh if it were my friend i would get her something for her, and not anything that makes any reference to her illness. Atm her life, and that of her close friends/family will be consumed by the devostating news that she won't be with them for much longer, and in such situations, often people just crave a bit of normality. Of course you acknowledge the fact you know of her illness, but perhaps send her something to pamper herself, some chocolate, a basket of bath goodies/essential oils, some nice underwear. Something that reiterates the fact that she's still a person and can still enjoy something in her life iyswim.

as wannabe says, a present for her as well would be nice. if she's spending time in hospital already i can't recommend those evian-type water sprays highly enough. elemis do a nice one with peppermint oil in it. hate being on wards, the air is always so dry and as for the hospital smell...

What about combining the two and getting a nice wooden box that can be reused and filling it with little luxuries like the suggested chocs and toiletries. Or perhaps gift vouchers for a local or on line craft store if you know for definate she is making scrapbooks and stuff. The cost of scrap book supplies can really add up.