Need quick help for a gift idea!

[chayton]

As some of you are aware, Ray's mom is in the hospital following several strokes. She's hanging in there, when she's awake she's got that old sparkle in her eyes. Today's her 93 birthday and we're going to visit these evening and want to bring her a brithday gift.

These are the issues - she's not able to eat or drink yet so any food related items are out. She's not able to wear her glasses (and doesn't stay awake long enough) to read so reading's out. She's limited on space, and she's got a ton of flowers. She's got lotion and jammies and perfume.

Sooo uhmmm I was thinking about trying to find one of those supersoft squishy cushion/pillow things....maybe a soft blankie....?

I just wanted to see if any of you guys have any bright ideas?

 

[Jennifer]

balloons? Or from working in a nursing home I do know the elder love to listen to music. If you could find a way to get her that, it would be the best present as music is extremely soothing.

 

[bsilva028]

As some of you are aware, Ray's mom is in the hospital following several strokes. She's hanging in there, when she's awake she's got that old sparkle in her eyes. Today's her 93 birthday and we're going to visit these evening and want to bring her a brithday gift.

These are the issues - she's not able to eat or drink yet so any food related items are out. She's not able to wear her glasses (and doesn't stay awake long enough) to read so reading's out. She's limited on space, and she's got a ton of flowers. She's got lotion and jammies and perfume.

Sooo uhmmm I was thinking about trying to find one of those supersoft squishy cushion/pillow things....maybe a soft blankie....?

I just wanted to see if any of you guys have any bright ideas?

maybe a frame with a picture of you?

 

[Realitybitez]

Laptop and casino Oh ok, thats what I'd want if I was bed ridden in hospital Do they have TVs in there? A dvd player? Maybe some movies to help while away the time? Or one of those Digital photo frames, and you can put family photos in it, that she can look at all the time? Doesnt take up much room and makes one feel closer to home? Plants are always good too. Not flowers, plants. They seem to last longer than flowers in a hospital

 

[slotjunkie]

Music or a laptop where she can watch her favorite movies or pictures of her family/friends.


When My Dad was in the hospital all he wanted was music and to watch his westerns...

 

[The Dude]

How about books on tape/CD? Even poems - they don't last long so she doesn't need to stay awake for hours on end.

Any bookstore would have them or check out your local library, there should be a slew of them.

When my mom was sick we played a lot of music for her - and just talked.

 

[Jasminebed]

One of those little portable DVD players and comfortable ear plugs for it, together with a selection of DVDs and CDs. Look for audio books too, they are usually appreciated.

 

[chayton]

Ray's one sister brings her laptop with slideshows and movies, and we've already set up an iPod and she can listen to her music, even her own songs, which she's really enjoying!

Ray's recorded a couple of her songs - the last one she wanted to redo because when she came over she was just getting over her bout of pneumonia so she was a little out of breath and her tempo wasn't quite right - it's still pretty darned good though, and since this happened to her it might not get redone. So on Saturday we got Ray's brother to come lay down a drum track and his two sisters came on Sunday and recorded backup vocals - Ray's already done the guitar and bass so she's got all her kids taking part on this song so she just loves it - Ray said she was listening to it last night and smiling and wiggling her feet to the music as she fell asleep.

For my part, I made her a CD cover and disc label - these photos were taken at the recording session just a couple of months ago.



I thought about a plant, but I'm not sure they'll let us bring one into the stroke ward because of the dirt....balloons might be nice though. Audiobooks might work too...I'll check into that, thanks!

 

[harrys99]

You got some really great ideas here Chayton. As special as she sounds, as you described her, I'll bet whatever you do for her will be appreciated and just your presence will be a gift. Hope all goes well for you and your family

 

[Jasminebed]

Very nice CD work Chayton. What a special gift that is, to have all her kids collaberating.

Any chance you could ask for permission to share it with us?

 

[skiny]

When my mother was sick and in ICU I blew up all the rubber gloves in the room and batted them over top of her.

It's amazing, as sick as she was she was still able to make a fist at me.

 

[chayton]

Very nice CD work Chayton. What a special gift that is, to have all her kids collaberating.

Any chance you could ask for permission to share it with us?

We'll see, I'm sure nobody would mind...lol, she's handing out copies of her songs to everyone already anyhow!

Tomorrow morning she's supposed to have a feeding tube plug thingie mounted directly into her tummy. It was something we were hoping she wouldn't have to do because it's general anaesthetic and surgery. It really sucks.

For those of you who have had strokes and bounced back from it, I'm really happy for you -it's horrible how debilitating it can be.

 

[taysh075]

Hey Chayton. I like the books on tape idea that Casinomeister came up with. I also wonder about getting her something like a nice shawl or bed jacket (this is an old thing I recall ladies years ago used to have) as there is nothing worse than feeling ill, or having something wrong, and on top of that feeling like you look awful. Imagine all the visitors and doctors etc and you look like you have bed head etc . I also like the idea of a nice blanket, one that is made of a very soft material or silky. Sometimes it can be really soothing for people to run their hands (if she has some movement) along a nice material, particularly if in pain and trying to distract themselves.

I hope she gets better. She is obviously very loved.

 

[chayton]

I ended up getting her this really cool little blanket/throw - it's supersoft and very light and has these little pompoms, so she can use it as a blankie or a wrap and feel 'dressed up' - it's really warm too, actually too warm. I'm surprised at how warm it is in that hospital. And I also picked her up a really soft squishy smallish cushion shaped like a heart.

They have the nurses bundle her up into a chair and take her down to this indoor garden in the hospital and she wears her blankie and has her arm resting on the pillow, so it's been a useful gift I think. Ray's sister brings the laptop and headphones and she said Margaret watched Oklahoma sitting in the garden!