Help with ideas for hospital stay wanted please!

[Rabidbun]

Would second the DS with some good puzzle games if you can get hold of one (plus there's all sorts on it - sudoku, gem based puzzle games, adventures such as Professor Layton also worth a shot perhaps - it's a good text based mystery game if she is into that).

I'd also look at some CDs with audio adventures (for transference onto music players or her PC?) or perhaps audio books? I brought in some audio adventures for Doctor Who for example during my op, which kept me quite entertained and also meant I didn't have to hold and focus on books if I was tired.

Oh, and as a crafter, there are some rather good mini scrapbook kits (make sure she takes enough glue though and her scissors/photos) available.

[jackie j]

Good news that she is doing so well. Lots of good ideas already mentioned in previous posts so I dont think I can add any. Someone has mentiond writing christmas cards but she could make some, small cross stich ones are easy and dont take very long.
I wish her well and a speedy recovery. Hugs to you and all your family.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I can't think of anything else that hasn't already been suggested, but think the idea of your sister joining the Grapevine is a brill idea. The Grapes could keep your sister entertained, even PM'ing your sister with what has been happening with us on the outside - funny/happy/pet stories.

Also best wishes to your sister from myself and Mr Frosty.

[jackie j]

And we could tell tales on you lol

[SueA]

I can't think of anything that's not been mentioned, I was thinking books, magazines, tapestry kit for a cushion or similar, scrapbooking the family history, maybe some paper & an origami book? Good idea to join here & something like Facebook etc. to keep in touch. Hope everything goes well for her.

[Two_Sheds]

When I was in (for weeks at a time, but not as long as your sister will be) I had stacks of library books, tapes and a radio (it was before the iPod was invented). A laptop would've been a godsend.... online Scrabble, FB and the Vine.

I also had some knitting to do, although my brain was so fuddled with the chemo that it all kept going wrong! I'd have been better with a simple tapestry (stitch a cushion cover type of thing).

[dogsbody]

What about a camera so she can document her stay to show eveyone afterwards?

Hope all goes well and she is home, better, soon.

[enrich100]

My stays in hospitals involves the laptop as dvds and music are the best things, mainly because it doesn't really matter how you feel, you can fall asleep watching or listening and it does not matter, yes obviously magazines are good and if any of her hobbies would be good, one suggestion would be if any of you have a video camera, get friends to send video messages,even if it showing what work your doing in the garden, this is better if you can transfer to DVD so they can watch them at their leisure, The four walls of a hospital room seem to be very limiting especally if you are in isolation, photos also mean the world to me when I am in Hospital

A writing pad is always good, I know its old fashioned nowdays to send someone a letter but coresponding by mail is still a bit more special than an email + it takes up more time, A pads also to write thoughts down during the slower times in hospital

hope all goes well for her
and her recovery is a fast and pain free as possible

[Jeanied]

I know you were looking for crafting and activity type things - but when I was in hosp recently and feeling a bit down what I would have liked was 1) a beautiful pair of slippers - shops full of them (mine are worn down and uncomfortable) and 2) a beautiful Indian shawl - again not expensive but great to wrap up in. Hope this helps

[lizzylemon]

My suggestions are:

Lots of lovely glam pjs - she wont be able to wear makeup or have nice smellies so these might help make her feel a bit better.

Maybe an artists pad and some pens/pencils or watercolour set. She could while away hours doodling, painting pictures of places she'd like to go, failing that a colouring book to fill in. I love the flower fairies for a more grown-up colouring book.

Also, don't forget to send in a portable web cam , that way she'll be able to see you even if you can't there for any reason.

Best of luck for her next stage. I hope it goes as well as the rest has. XXXX

[organic]

First thing's first, if she's allowed to take a computer in... MAKE SURE SKYPE IS ON IT!
Put skype on the computers of her family and friends... hospital phones tend to cost a fortune (and often have premium rate numbers incoming too) so free calls will be a massive help.
If you get a "3" mobile on pay-as-you-go you can have Skype with you on the move too so you're always in reach if she's having a low point and wants to hear a friendly voice.


I have just finished reading Ellen MacArthur's first book (Taking on the World), and before that Dee Caffari's (first woman to sail solo, non stop around the world against the prevailing conditions - more people have been to the moon than have achieved that one).

Both seemed to take a HUGE amount of comfort from special gift boxes that had been packed on board before setting off. Things like mini plastic Christmas trees, photos that remind them of a good time and so on seemed to help a lot. I'm sure she'll be bringing in some pictures, but if she has some sprung on her on a milestone day (or Christmas if she ends up in there that long - dunno how far past "minimum" she might go) could make a massive difference to her happiness levels.

You might want to consider a bad scenario where she's in for Christmas - could happen - in which case some small Christmas presents for her to open in there would probably make the day about a million times better.

Both the women above took a lot of comfort from talking to people too (albeit over a scratchy satellite link in their cases) so I really do think the SKYPE suggestions above would be important.

Get her "to read" book list and buy her the lot.
If I was going in I'd probably take the entire series of Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett as they are a great laugh and would keep my spirits up. Dunno if it'd be to her taste though.

How about an Open University module? If she has Internet access and you make sure she has all the materials with her she'd likely have more than enough time to learn something new. Is there anything she'd like to do on that front?

I'd like to second the web-cam from Lizzy's post above too. I think that's a great idea... obviously you'd need one on your computers too!


It might be slightly off-the-wall... but have you got a scanner?
If she came across a book she wanted to read in her hours online and wanted to read it before she's out, you could order it online, scan the whole thing and send it to her to read on her laptop. Obviously that'd only be necessary if there was no e-book available. Worth a thought though.

[maytreefrannie]

I think others have covered anything I could think of and more - but one thing I got recently was the BBC 3 DVDs of Geoff Hamilton's old programmes - if she likes gardening, they're very good and really relaxing.

Glad to hear things are going well and best wishes for her treatment and recovery.

[Sue]

Hi
Like the others am full of good wishes.

Audio books have been suggested but I'd like to recommend one of the full length Charles Dickens recordings. I've listened to those when I've been ill and you can really lose yourself in the stories, I've still got some on Audio Cassette, 32+ per set so very long lasting. Anthony Trollope would be good too. Of course you can download them now especially the Naxos ones.

My lengthy hospital visits were all pre email but I would have welcomed a daily message, it was always so disappointing when there were no letters would be lovely to know that when you swithed on the computer in the morning, there it would be.

Crochet has been suggested, and it would be easier to do a block pattern quilt, cushion cover or blanket. If you're unable to sit up, a small piece of work would be easier on the arms.

Why doesn't she start a blog?

love
Sue

[bramble]

I think audio books are a godsend. If you don't feel up to holding a book its great to have someone to read to you.
I wish your sister good health and a speedy recovery.

[lizzylemon]

Can I just add earphones (I prefer the little earbud ones) if they're not already on the list. Listening on the computer is OK but stories take on a different level when they're heard through earphones.

Also, maybe set up an i-tunes (or similar type) account and ask friends and family to add monthly credits to the account. Your sister can pick and choose from film DVDs to set boxes of her fav TV series, audio books, music, new languages - all sorts at her finger tips.

XX

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