My poorly pupil

[WelshMoth]

Don't want to say too much but he's 15, into his 2nd year of chemo with plenty of complications added in.

He is incredible.
I miss him.
He never complains.
His sense of humour is off the scale.

He's proper ill and I want to fill a box from me and his classmates to cheer him up. It'll have lots of messages in it but I also want to spoil him. Other teachers want to chip in.

I need ideas please!

Aww this is so sweet
Does he like computer games? Books? Art? Etc
Or give him vouchers to spend on something he can use while in hospital to keep him entertained, if you can get enough money you could probably get a Nintendo switch during Black Friday sale

So sad.
Games, books, console games, console, art bits.
Take him his favourite meal e.g Nando’s.
Could you take some of his friends to visit?

He’ll love what ever you take him x

Some things my teenagers would like:

• chocolate (obviously...)
• lush bath bombs (boys too)
• the card game, Cards Against Humanity (for when he's well enough to see friends)
• novels - Gone series, Hunger Games both popular
• soft fluffy cussions
• Monster canned drinks (seem to be very popular)
• one of those aluminium drinking bottles that are very trendy. Also good if he's in bed a lot and wants a drink handy.

lip salve - hospitals are very drying
ear plugs - noisy
bubbles to make bubble tea - juice is born
funny ice cube tray - for keeping mouth wet if nauseous, you can get star wars ones, emoji ones etc
socks - feet get cold
bunting - not much space for cards, get messages on triangle paper/card and staple them onto ribbon/string to hang up on bed/bedroom wall.

Plus, if possible - some really stonking bit of gossip from school. Make up the most ludicrous stories if you have to - I don't know how you'd get away with that, but, silly stuff about people that would make him smile.
book of stamps and blank cards

You are a lovely teacher.

boring, not born. Juice is boring!

An Alexa dot and a smart plug...so he can control lights etc with his voice rather than having to get up?

This makes me feel quite teary but at DD’s school they had a collection for a helicopter flight. Flew over school and the pupils spelt out ‘miss U’ on the school field.
Photos of pupils sending messages?

And some homework!

Get him to write a stilly story of something that happened and send it in with the stamps and envelope. Or email it. Something that makes him feel included.

Itunes/play voucher so he can download music, films, games etc, cooling misting spray/humidifier, fun socks/comfy t-shirt

Homework, don't underestimate the power of normality.

What a lovely 😊 idea 💡
Comfy lounge wear/slippers
Sketchbook if he likes drawing and some stationary
Nice smellies/deodorant or aftershave
Maybe a photo album with class mates in
A usb stick with video messages from friends and staff
Nice chocolate or sweets
Film and popcorn

Hope that helps 😊

Maybe create a class WhatsApp or FB group where he can chat with his friends online (he may not want a teacher on this though).

Audiobooks, if he is feeling too unwell to watch he may be able to listen.

Netflix gift card.

Comedy drama performance by staff and students that will cheer him up to watch on dvd.

Boiled sweets to suck (like when you are travel sick).

If he is into IT and is well enough you could help him set up a website/blog where he can let of steam and showcase some of that humour.

Some teenagers like Stephen Sutton (who raised £3m for the Teenage Cancer Trust) find purpose in helping raise money for others. If he wanted to you could help him organise a way of raising funds via the school.

Clic Sargent is good charity supporting young people with cancer and they have lots of info of ways to support on their website.

Thank you. I'm loving these ideas.

I think I'm going to need a bigger box!

I have just now come home after spending a few nights in hospital with my 15yo son (nothing that serious thank god). The things he wished he had were snacks/fizzy drinks and one of those power packs you can use to charge your phone/ipad because he couldn't hold it at a comfortable angle while it was plugged into charger.

We are not in UK - it is midday here if you're wondering why we were discharged this late at night!

You sound like a lovely teacher, OP.

That's a lovely idea. I've 2 slightly younger and they would like things like:

a big tub of Swizzels sweets
Crisps - Pringles
Soft toy - maybe a monkey or a panda
Earplugs
Puzzle books
Anti-Stress balls
Colouring pens / different colour paper.
Hot water bottle
Picture blanket with a photo of something he likes
Water bottle

Maybe some of BodyShop Hemp handcream etc range

I'm told absolutely not strong smelling things like aftershave and bath bombs because smells become hugely overwhelming on chemo and nausea is ever present. Definitely yes to things like slippers and socks because the body gets cold and simple scent free lotions for cracked chapped skin. Also hat or cap. Boiled sweets for the nausea (there are some tinned sweets for nausea I found online which MIL loved when she went through chemo) music vouchers, a fortnightly class newsletter?

What about a class weekly ‘news sheet ‘. Put together by his class mates.
It could contain all the latest school news/gossip. Maybe a sports report , also a few in jokes.
Could make him feel still one of the crowd.
It could also be a good project/exercise for the class.
Be nice for him to feel still part of everything.

I love the idea of a class news sheet.

My friend had chemo as a teenager and although it was done with love she really hated presents to do with her illness like pjs, blankets etc. She wanted to feel “normal” and not think about her cancer when we visited her.

Cards Against Humanity is HORRIFIC - my teen would absolutely LOVE it plus it’s something he can play with his mates and family. That’s a brilliant idea, whoever suggested it!

What have his friends suggested? They’ll probably have a good idea of what he’s in to.

Thinking of your pupil, his family and all of you.