Nothing could be sweeter than giving or sending a meaningful gift to someone who is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Here are some ways you can show you care by giving or sending a very thoughtful gift.
Meaningful Gifts
♥ A light tote bag to carry their “comfort” items with them to therapy.
♥ BPA–free water bottle to stay hydrated.
♥ A cozy blanket to keep them warm.
♥ A soft pillow to rest their head while undergoing treatment.
♥ Fuzzy socks or slippers to keep their feet warm. You may want to provide socks with rubber grips on the sole to help prevent slipping on floors or tile.
♥ A knitted scarf to keep their neck warm.
♥ A soft cotton cap/turban or colorful scarf/bandana for their head. Many experience hair loss due to chemotherapy, so the soft turban provides covering without irritating their skin.
♥ Personal items such as unscented lotion to lather onto dry skin, which is very common for those undergoing chemotherapy. Or lip balm for chapped lips.
♥ Light reading such as a humorous book to make them laugh, an inspirational book to lift their spirits, or a beautiful magazine to peruse. If they have a computer/tablet, may I suggest You’re Invited Magazine?
♥ An inspirational bookmark to keep them inspired while they read.
♥ Crossword puzzles and Sudoku books, or other game books that challenge their thinking and keeps their mind focused on something other than their illness.
♥ There’s nothing like a good uplifting movie! Two of my favorites are August Rush and The Hundred Foot Journey. Create a tradition by providing a new movie after each chemotherapy treatment. That way, they have something exciting to look forward to after they’ve had their treatment. Several friends can go in on this gift to help cut the overall cost.
♥ Music is very powerful and can be inspiring. These songs have powerful lyrics, so consider the gift of an iTunes playlist (from the Store menu, select Share Playlist, then Gift):
∼ Fight Song by Rachel Platten
∼ Fight Like a Girl by Bomshel
∼ Bring On The Rain by Jo Dee Messina & Tim McGraw
∼ I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
∼ You Raise Me Up by Celtic Women or Josh Groban
∼ This One’s for The Girls by Martina McBride
∼ That’s The Way by Jo Dee Messina
♥ Consider giving them an inspirational CD with faith-filled songs or instrumental songs to soothe their soul.
♥ Give the gift of service. Offer to pick-up their groceries, prescriptions, light housekeeping, babysit, water plants, walk the dog, gardening, mow their lawn, etc.
♥ Offer to drive them to and from their chemotherapy treatments and, if they agree, sit with them to keep them company. Do not be offended if they prefer to be alone during their treatment. Be very respectful of their wishes! This can be a hard time for many and how one processes difficulty will differ from person to person. If you are asked to wait in the waiting room, take along items to keep yourself occupied.
♥ Make a gift basket of relaxing teas and include a teacup or mug. Here are several teas that have shown to have some healing benefits:
∼ Peppermint Tea – Eases indigestion, nausea and vomiting.
∼ Chamomile Tea – Soothes muscles in the stomach.
∼ Lemon Balm Tea – The citrus helps tame tension.
∼ Passionflower Tea – Recommended for insomnia.
∼ Rosemary Tea – Wards off headaches.
∼ Ashwagandha – Stimulates the immune system in patients with low white blood cells due to chemotherapy or radiation treatments. It’s also good for insomnia.
∼ Matcha – Has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help fight disease and promote a tranquility effect.
∼ Turmeric – Powerful anti-inflammatory that contains antioxidants which may help fight cancer.
∼ Ginger – Eases headaches.
Most chemotherapy drugs have side effects (e.g., hair loss, dry skin, the feeling of needles and pins in your hands and feet, etc.). Finding ways to alleviate those symptoms is always a plus for the patient. My mother crocheted while she was undergoing treatment because the specific drug she was given created the annoying feeling of needles and pins in her hands and feet. By crocheting, it kept her hands moving and, therefore, minimized the awkward feeling. It also kept her mind preoccupied, which is always a plus. In the end, most cancer patients will appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gift, whatever you choose to give.
♥
Create a tradition by providing a new movie after each chemotherapy treatment. That way, they’ll have something exciting to look forward to after their treatments. Several friends can go in on this gift to help cut the overall cost.
© By Linda Yonan