Help in Finding the Right Thing to Send to Parents of Cancer Patient

Why don't you make a donation to the American Caner Society or some other organization in the child's honor?

How about a personal card and some gas cards to help aleviate the traveling expenses. And, how about a special stuffed animal for the child that they can bring for comfort.

with them traveling alot maybe some gift cards for gas, to restraunts that are common every where, or to a hotel so they don't have to pay it out of thier pocket. or if your looking for something for the child what about books, coloring books,hand held games or toys that the child can do while being in the hospital or while in bed. another idea would be get a teddy bear and have the soccor team sign the bear and give it to him to cuddle while there. it wouldn't be directly from you but it would be nice to see all the people who are thinking of him and praying for them.

Hello P.,
First, thank you for helping others. I have a son with Traumatic Brain Injury and Arnold Chiari Malformation of the brain. Any help with ANY child parents are grateful.

We travel alot as well.
We love - books, game books, travel lunch box full of matchbox cars and a travel DVD player.
My son loves - his gameboy, super hero guy toys, and his travel lunch box full of legos.
All of these can be in the car and hospital. If they take a tray (like for in bed) it holds the cars and legos.

We also have a already packed backpack...we call it his hospital bag. We never unpack it and it has everything we need TOY wise in it. Just incase we ever have that ER trip we grab and go with it. It has been a lifesaver.
Just share with them if you can....most hospitals have some help for parents to sleep and meal plans....also if they are near Ronald McDonald house...THE BEST place ever!!!!
My prayers go out...and bless you again for helping others

The first things that come to mind are gas or restaurant cards to help with the traveling, and games or activities they can play with their son to have fun and take their mind off things for a little while. The boy might like some things that he can do himself, too, to alleviate boredom in between treatment.
They would probably also appreciate notes letting them know you're thinking about them, and (if you live close) maybe offering to help with pets, yard work, checking on their house while they are away.

P. - what a very nice gesture you and your family are doing to help out another family through a very difficult time in their lives. I applaud you!

Gift cards to gas stations and gift cards to food places such as Subway, McDonalds etc (some place just about every town has). And for the 7 year old son - perhaps a pair of cool pajamas to wear while in the hospital.

Bless you!
D.

Send them a nice card with a gas gift card to help with their travels.

I would work to find a way to make their time at home easier - prepare meals, clean their house, shovel the snow, etc. You don't say if they have other children. Could you help take care of the other children? It goes without saying that prayers are always appreciated!

gas cards would really help. next summer involvement with relay for life in their name would be special. also give a homemade coupon booklet they can redeem with you for helping with watching other children (if they have others)while they are away at treatments, fixing their supper after a long day at the doctors, etc. when my husband was going thru treatments that took all day out-of-town, i would have given anything for someone to pick my daughter up from school til we got home soon after. the school was no help at all so she had to miss a whole day every time to go with us. moral support is the best but there are little things like that most people don't think of. will the coach need a sub at some practices/games that you could help out with or at least help find volunteers to fill in? hope these ideas help. all the best to that family-they have a long road ahead.

S. m

Hand held electronic keychains. They lok like an ipod shape. but that you can down load with 60-100 pictures of people. Tke the pics of these people and then you can leave messages on posters and take pics of them.

they are like $9- $30. I know that when they(I needed) need a better place to go during treatments the pics help but the convenience is great they show the nurses and doc who their friends and family are. remember them as time passes mark random dayas on next years calendar and dedicate them to this family, then when the days come send them something, call them, or just pray for them.

A teacher in our district and her husband found out this fall that their 7 year old had a form of luekemia.
They too had to travel over an hour for treatments with a younger sibling at home.
The teacher's friends/co-workers set up a food schedule, so they didnt' have to worry about that. It was online at our district email, and people signed up for when they could make them supper. Another thing that came up was gas cards. There was cash donated that they were given that for food on the road. But, if there is nothing like that organized, get them fuel cards for a major company....holiday, SA.....they are found pretty much anywhere. They can certainly use gas.
Good Luck....and maybe look to see if anyone has something formal organized yet, or maybe some friends/students can help with that.

P.,

I am so sorry to hear the sad news. I don't know if there are young siblings of this child at home, as well. We do have some resources for children when a family member is affected by cancer...but not for the little patient himself (although that is in the works).

As for the family...things will be surreal for them for some time...cooking, cleaning and chores are insurmountable when you are in and out of the hospital with a sick child. How about a gift certificate for a local take-out restaurant or pizza place? My heart goes out to the family.

W....mom of 3
www.kidlutions.com (if you want to see the KidTalkCards we have on dealing with cancer in the family.)

Hi- We found gas gift cards to be incredibly helpful. Very practical gift, but so needed for the many miles spent back and forth to treatment. My father-in-law recently passed away from a 3-year battle with cancer and my mother-in-law said the gas cards were one of the best gifts she received. The added cost of gas for filling her car really added up as they had to go to many treatments and doctor's appts. Most were purchased from a local convenience store close to her home.

I found out that I had Leukemia 3 weeks after I found out that I was pregnant with my first child. At my baby shower, a couple of my closest friends presented me with a plaque and a card for my purse with a poem called "Don't Quit". Everytime I felt like giving up, even to this day, I would read the poem, knowing it was given by my friends who love me, and that, along with my kids (I have 2 now), would motivate me to keep going strong!!

Here is the original poem in it's entirety:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

The poem has been changed several times over, but all the versions say the same thing: Don't Quit!!!

I also found a website that sell the plaque and maybe the laminated card:

http://www.elizabethlucasdesigns.com/shopexd.asp?id=336

I hope this helps!!

gas cards or coupons to resturants would be very helpful. Also little hand heald games for the 7 year old to play while traveling. Anything to ease the stress and cost of all the travels
N.