A good friend of mine is having her stomach removed for a rare type of cancer. We’d love to send her a recovery kit, but we don’t know what to put in it! I know she’ll need a liquid diet for a while, so I’m thinking of giving her a large Stanley with a straw. I don’t know what else might help. So, if you had surgery and something really helped her recovery, please let me know! I’m not from her hometown, and her fiancé has already taken care of her and her meals. Thank you!
I love Stanley’s idea! I think you could roll up some fuzzy socks and put them inside, along with an Amazon card, for example, because he might need some things, like drink powders or supplements sold on Amazon. Wrap everything carefully and include a nice card. I think it would make a great gift!
Warm slippers, a blanket, a sweatshirt, or a piece of loungewear that doubles as pajamas or for entertaining. A good book or e-reader.
Lip balm, hand lotion, and wipes. Shower gel before surgery can dry out the skin, and intubation can cause dry mouth. Also, your friend may not be able to shower for a few days; wiping off any accumulated iodine and thoroughly cleaning their armpits and intimate area will help them feel better. After abdominal surgery, patients are often advised to place a pillow over their wound when coughing; why not use a stuffed animal? After some surgeries, it can be very difficult to raise your arms to comb your hair. If you have long hair, you may want to braid it to make it less messy.
Heating pad or electric blanket
I’ve felt very isolated after my surgeries. I think it would be great to write to her from time to time to check in. Say something like, “Hey, no need to reply, but I’m thinking about you…”
A relative had half of his stomach and colon removed. I don’t know if this list fits your tastes and preferences: good books, an e-reader, or a coupon for an audiobook with one funny and one sad, because sometimes laughing hurts or crying is good; chamomile and mint tea; he said it calmed him and cured his gas; an electric blanket and warm socks; he was cold for two years; a six-meter cell phone charging cable with clips to attach it to the bed or nightstand; for very close friends, a 12-pack of underwear, because accidents happen from time to time. Thin, long panty liners have also come in handy. And my favorite item during my plastic surgery: the “Existential Crisis” duck lamp. It’s available on Amazon, is affordable, emits a soft, relaxing light, bright enough for reading, is silicone and can be safely placed over the bed, has a timer or can be turned off with a simple touch, and is the cutest lamp in the world!
I think comfortable clothing would be ideal if you know your size, preferably loose-fitting. My husband had open-heart surgery and loved crossword puzzles and Sudoku when he got bored of watching TV all day. I gave a relative undergoing chemotherapy an adult coloring book and a nice set of colored pencils, and she loved them. Coloring is very relaxing! I wish your friend a speedy recovery!
Could you ask her if she can wear pants or belted clothing during her recovery? That way, you can decide whether she needs a fitted outfit or a comfortable, luxurious kaftan.
Bathing can be tricky, so pack body and face wipes, plus a small toiletry bag to keep her phone, lip balm, or whatever she needs handy (it’s handy if you don’t have to go far to reach it). Hand cream, hand sanitizer, and lozenges, since she’ll be on a liquid diet (something different and tasty would be nice). Extra socks and underwear (if needed), since it’s hard to do laundry when you’re depressed.
Do you have a good blender? If not, a Nutribullet will be your best friend.
Honestly, when I had cancer, I had to have a complete hysterectomy, and my favorite gifts were the ones that made me feel the best. Here’s a list of things that are probably as helpful as they are comfortable: A nightgown: Easier than bending down to pull up my pants. Warm socks or cute slippers: For some reason, my feet got really cold after surgery. A blanket: I’ll be able to sleep well for a while. A nice blanket on the couch or chair while watching TV has proven helpful. A small pillow: Coughing is painful after surgery. A pillow to hold on to will ease the cough. Crossword puzzles, books, a deck of cards, art supplies, etc.: These things give you something to do during recovery and don’t require getting up or standing for long periods.
An electric blanket if you live in a cold climate. A neck lamp for working with hobby books. Silicone straws.
I would send art or craft supplies.
A lap blanket. If she’s religious, add a charm (a saint or guardian angel) and have a local priest bless it. Someone did this for my mother, and she was very grateful… but my mother was religious. How about puzzle books, adult crayon coloring pages, or magazines to pass the time? If you think she’d appreciate it, offer to walk the dogs or send a housekeeper for a few weeks. Or help with the laundry?