When a child is diagnosed with cancer everyone feels helpless. Despite our best efforts, it is difficult to know what to do for the family. If you’re looking to help the family by offering your time and talents, you should take a peek at our Parent-to-Parent Guide and download the “Support Plan” section for ways to help out and great planning tools to assist you with becoming a part of the families’ support team.
If you do not live close to the family but would like to offer a gift to show your support, or are simply looking for a way to show the child or family you care at this holiday time, here are five great gift ideas for children and families in cancer treatment:
The Comfort of Home
When children spend a great deal of time hospitalized, they usually like to personalize their hospital room as much as possible. Taking blankets and pillows from home can be a great way to make the room feel cozy and functional at the same time.
-
- Bed Rest Pillows
Bed rest pillows allow the child to rest in a sitting position on something comfortable. For examples of fun bed rest pillows, visit Bed Bath and Beyond and check out a variety of colors, textures and a even some college football themes!
- Bed Rest Pillows
-
- A Medical Kit
Putting together a medical kit that contains one or more of the following useful items is a great way to show your support for a child or family. Ideas for valuable items include:
- A Medical Kit
-
- Hand sanitizer
Try finding a brand that is organic or moisturizes since sanitizer can be rough on hands when used as much as a family living with cancer uses it.
- Hand sanitizer
-
- The gift of pain free shots with Buzzy®
Buzzy® is simply a bee-shaped ice pack that vibrates and can be used for natural pain relief. It can be used on any sharp pain, itches and burns. The vibration and cold desensitize the body’s nerves and dull or eliminate pain.
- The gift of pain free shots with Buzzy®
-
- Sippy Sure Medicine Dispensing Sippy Cup
Any way we can help kids take oral medication is a benefit. This sippy cup has a hidden medicine dispenser that snaps into place to make the task so much easier. Along the same lines Ava the elephant makes medicine fun!
- Sippy Sure Medicine Dispensing Sippy Cup
-
- A GOOD Thermometer
Accurate temperature readings are very important to families living with childhood cancer. Ear thermometers are fast and non-invasive.
- A GOOD Thermometer
-
- Picc Line Covers
It’s a good idea to keep peripheral IV lines covered so kids don’t pull at them. Etsy has some fun and funky covers so kids of all ages can cover Picc Lines with pride.
- Picc Line Covers
-
- G Tube Protectors
Not all children in cancer treatment need NG or G tubes, but if they do, here are a couple of fantastic products:
– G Tube Protective Belt
– Feeding Friends NG and NJ
- G Tube Protectors
The Gift of Good Food
Consider offering your friends the gift of a good meal while they are experiencing a hospital stay. Restaurant gift certificates make this possible even when you’re not able to deliver it yourself. You can research restaurants that are located close to the hospital and provide delivery service. Be sure to include a menu for the restaurant (usually available to print on the restaurant’s website) and cash for to tip the driver.
The Gift of Preparation
Car totes are a useful gift for families who may experience unplanned hospital visits. They can be packed with snacks, blankets and hospital stay essentials and left by the door or in the car. You can provide this gift empty or filled with useful home away from home items.
The Gift of Knowledge and Education
Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program is devoted to educating families about childhood cancer. When we know what to expect we are better prepared and less anxious.
Besides our famous Chemo Duck, we offer many products free of charge to assist families during this time.
Feel free to print out any of our useful tools such as our:
- Parent-to-Parent Guide
- Kids Pages
- We also offer Huggable Hope to show your support for the family.