Favorite products? Lip balm, music, anything!

nicole2086

Hey everyone,

In light of my mom's recent diagnosis, I've been reading so much and going through so many threads that my head is spinning! We talk daily but I decided that I want to send her a little gift every week. I know there are very good threads on head coverings and books, but I'm wondering about your other favorite products -- things that you find soothing to the mind, body or soul as you battle breast cancer.  Have a super amazing robe? A favorite lip balm? Hand cream? Meditation CD? Refrigerator magnet? Any little tokens that remind you that you are loved, or to be strong, or hopeful? What are your top must-haves or love-haves?

Thank you!

Bugs

humourous cards that are not about "getting well".  lots of them.  I LOVED getting those in the mail.  ANYTHING that would make me laugh.

nicole2086

My mom has a great sense of humor and I think she would love that! Thank you!

mary625

I had a chemo angel, and her creativity of things to send me was unbelievable. Here's a short list: candy, lip balm, hand cream, note cards, books, movie DVDs, paid for a pizza for takeout at the local pizzeria, kitchen towels, small games, socks (the big, fluffy kind you can wear around the house in winter). She was just unbelievable. Now I will always have a good list of things I can get people who need a little gift to lift their spirits. As far as good products specifically, I would not send anything with strong, distinctive odors. I got kind of tired of lavender after awhile. If she's in chemo, she might not appreciate odors. If she is in radiation, then there she will not want to be using scented soaps and lotion anywhere near the site. Burt's Bees lip balms are excellent. I have been getting away from parabens, and I shop for such products at Whole Foods, as well as using many Bare Escentuals products (but read every label just to make sure). Hope this info helps.

nicole2086

Thanks Mary! I will definitely add those to the list, especially the Burt's Bees lip balm and Bare Escentuals.

Blessings2011

One of the most useful gifts I got was a simple fleece shawl from a church friend. I got some beautiful, handmade, lap quilts, but when I was sitting in bed reading, sometimes my shoulders got cold. (Of course, my surgery was in December....)

Having this simple shawl meant I could just drape it across the front of me at shoulder level and keep reading.

If Mom is going through chemo, she may find she gets cold in the infusion room. Most places have heated blankets, but it's nice to have something personal. Do you know someone who could make her a comfort quilt? Just something simple in her favorite colors, that she could snuggle up in....

nicole2086

Blessings, that is a wonderful idea.  I do have a sewing machine -- I've never made a quilt before, but it shouldn't be too difficult.  I could do just a few squares on the weekend and it'd be done in time for winter. 

 Thanks so much!

MandalaB

the blanket is an awesome idea they have easy "quilt in a day" patterns everywhere on the internet and fabric shops

I made these pillows for my dad when he had mutliple myeloma- its basically a simple pillow about 8 x 4 inches- and filled with flax seeds (they sell them in bulk at most health food stores). A zap in the micro for 2 minutes or chilled in the freezer was GREAT for his bone pain and headaches. So then I made them for my family for Xmas. I made a simple pillow out of muslin...and then sewed a little pillowcase for it in a fabric that each family member would have liked. They get rave reviews from even those who don't have cancer. I call them my miracle pillows

When I started chemo- my little miracle pillow was such a godsend during the Neulasta evil-ness, bone pains, headaches when I heated it up and applied it on the affected area. I want to make a bunch for the fellow patients at my hospital when I feel better

  xoxo

camillegal

One of the thing I have is a pair of slippers with betteries tha tgently message u'r feet and they feel so good. and paperweight sizes of faux gemsrones to put by a window for sun to sparkle--very relaxing. And if she looses her hair and it starts to get cold out an angel cap to use at night--without hair for some reason u'r hhead gets cold (even in air conditioning(--a book of pictures of beautiful scenery is also relaxing and of gemstones is so pretty to look at. And plenty of hand lotion and body lotion (non scented if u prefer--My skin got so dry so I really used it alot--I'm not as much now and I can tell the difference---personally I liked some Perlier Products and Pink sugar. But that's just me. And u will see as u go thru all of this with u'r Mom other things she migh really appreciate.  She's a very blest woman to have u as a dgtr.

Moderators

Nicole, little personalized photo albums were always popular with my mother. They were nothing fancy, but a dozen or so pics of children, puppies, gardens, events in the family's life and so on. They were fun for her to talk about with visitors, and show to the nurses or other patients. Most digital cameras and album software makes it pretty easy to print out standard-sized snaps or images captured from the internet.

Mod Judith

sbelizabeth

Nicole, here's something I bought for myself, but it would make a thoughtful gift too.  It's a mammography gown from Amazon.  They come in packs of two.  They're knee length, wrap in front so are easily opened for exams, and are not the flimsy, kleenex-like, ridiculous paper gowns that so many doctors' offices stock.  Your mom can have her own exam gown to wear during her gazillion appointments.

My gown is soft, comfortable, dignified, and warm.  I wore it during each of my thirty-eight radiation treatments and take it to every doctor's appointment.  Just go to Amazon and type in "mammography gown." 

jdootoo

http://shepherdschoice.com/

My sister's friend's store... all handmade, on the farm, amazing products, all natural.

One love, Jackie

Chevyboy

Mandala, GREAT idea!  I made those "warming" curved neck packs, you see in the malls.  I had one myself, laid it out, cut a pattern, and I filled mine with rice and lavender!   I use it all the time, everywhere!  Even gave as Christmas gifts one year. 

And maybe a cute "jar" with her favorite candies by her chair or bed?  Or her own Ipad filled with her favorite music and pictures?