Hi everyone, I need some ideas!! One of my husband's employees has a son who is in the hospital for 100+ days for a bone marrow transplant and other veery serious health issues. It's been a very rough couple of years for this family, and this is their biggest and possibly final hope. The family has had to split up geographically so that mom could be at the hospital with their son and dad could be in their hometown to keep the other kids in school.
The company my husband works for has reps throughout the country, normally they all adopt a family from a local charity and collectively donate things for the family members. This year, everyone wanted to put together a nice gift basket for the family of this boy. Some things for the parents, the family as a whole, and the kids- especially the son in the hospital.
I need some ideas!! Any ideas for any member of the family is great, or what they need related to spending so much time in a hospital. Mostly, I have no idea what 15/16 year old boys like! We are going to try to find out if he has a favorite sports team and get some things related to that, but other general ideas of what boys that age are into would be fantastic.
I can't even imagine what this family is going through, and I want to be as helpful and positive as I can with this gift, I just don't want to get it wrong! Thanks everyone!
How about if everyone chips in for an Android tablet or Kindle Fire and a gift card to buy some apps. If the hospital has Wifi, he can use it to watch movies on Netflix or Hulu, play games, Facebook, Twitter, whatever.
I hesitate to bring this up...BUT there is 'make a wish' foundation. They 'grant' wishes for children who are seriously ill.
I have never signed my kiddo up for it (it makes me feel as though I am somehow 'giving up' on her)...but there are MANY families that might wish to participate...and when in the midst of the 'health/crisis issues', may not even think of it.
If you have some time, perhaps research it FOR them...and may be a very great gift for them.
Just a thought!
Sending healing thoughts to this kiddo...his family...and friends...
Does he have an iPad? Not sure what the budget is, but I've never met a teenager that wouldn't appreciate iTunes giftcards. He can buy games or apps or music. That would keep him busy and occupied.
Also not sure if he is on food restriction.... But if you can get him gift cards for delivery places for food he likes. Like a giftcards for one lunch per week or whatever.
Ask them.but ask in a way that won't make them feel like a charity case.
If they know it is coming, it won't make it any less of a gift. It will however make it more appropriate. Ask them for a wish list. The parents can choose whether or not to seek input from the kids on this one.
Then honor the wish list. If they seek house cleaning services, so that it is one less thing for the parents to do, honor it. If they want a day out at the movies, honor it. If they all want to go to a nascar race, honor it.
don't editorialize their selection if you seek their input.
BTW, I think what you are doing is awesome.
good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
My son is 15.
Obviously, even 15 year olds are individuals and have different interests. Some kids will be "nerds" and love books (and within that group some will love mysteries, some will love poetry, some will love science or fantasy, and so on).. and some will not read unless FORCED.
So, keeping in mind that any information you actually do have about this boy might change whether something is a good idea or not... here are some ideas based on things that my son enjoys or I think someone his age might enjoy:
Ipod and itunes gift cards (for apps and music).
Over the ear headphones (instead of ear buds).. they are more comfortable and "trendy" now.
Comic books (super hero stuff.. The Deadpool character is a trendy one these days).
Ipad/tablet to watch Netflix on (The Walking Dead, The Office, all kinds of things this age will want to watch...).
A Netflix subscription if they don't already have one.
Snacks: my kids love jerky and it's always a hit when they go off to camp in the summer--someone always brings it and it is the first to go. But I don't know what his medical condition/treatment will allow him to have... but his siblings might like it. :)
My daughter lately (she's 12) is into those string games. Like when we were kids, and you learned to make Jacob's Ladder, etc with a long piece of string tied in a loop. You can find books with the string that shows you how to do it, or you can just make a string and if he has a tablet, he can use YouTube to learn all the tricks.
Maybe origami--same thing. A book with papers to fold. And Youtube is your friend. My daughter made tons of lotus flowers and partridges over the summer... all from youtube.
If they have kindles or tablets, an amazon card will allow them to purchase books via amazon. (The kindle app for tablets is free).
Good luck.
Gas cards and gift cards for meals out (even fast food) would be good for the family. Especially if they are split up.
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Oh.. and if they have a tablet.. don't just assume that they will think to look up some of these things that are available. They may not. So if you pick up a book (origami, string games, etc), you could include a sticky note in the cover with some YouTube links for them... so they can pursue it if they choose, but it doesn't leave them without resources if they didn't think of it themselves. And you know, they might be distracted.
Either a portable DVD player and some DVDs so he/they can watch movies, or like someone else said, a tablet.
Books or magazines for things they are interested in...like cars or sports for a teenage boy (if that's what he's into) and Barbie for a little girl, fashion magazines or young adult romance novels for a teenage girl, etc.
Giftcards so they can pick out their own...Amazon has a TON of different stuff and you can buy giftcards.
Snacks of non-perishable, non-hospital food...granola bars, fruit roll ups, crackers, etc.
New Pajamas or a bath robe? When you're in the hospital for a long time, it's nice to have fresh clothes and PJs are comfy and easy to get on and off.
Slippers...who doesn't love a nice pair of slippers/slipper socks?
For my son it would have been video games, music and books. Maybe people could pitch in and get him a Kindle or ipad with internet access (?) That would allow him to read, play games and stay connected with his family and friends.
A video game!
I'm sure that he's got a video game console in the room. Most do these days. Get him something he likes to play or wants.
Also, if you can find a way to cater in a nice dinner for the whole family in his room, that will be a gift to all of them.
Visa gift cards to cover expenses and with travel.
Video games that go with whatever handheld system he has and whatever his interests are.
ITunes cards so he can download music, games, and apps.
Amazon gift cards so he can get books and apps and even movies that he can download to a tablet.
You might contact the hospital, and ask them for ideas. They might have some restrictions or some favorites. Maybe the unit he's in needs a new Xbox or some new games. Maybe really good quality headphones would be a good idea for him? There are very few 15 year olds in the US who don't want awesome headphones and cool ear bud type listening devices. Maybe there's a DVD selection for long term patients that could use some new movies? Or a gift card for an online site like Amazon where he could order himself new slippers or electronics or games or whatever. Or maybe you could find out what cell phone service they use (Verizon or Sprint or what company their contract is with) and arrange with your local office to pay their bill for a month or more. If it's a national carrier, they can probably assist you with that. Cell phone communication must be vital to a family in that situation. You could just include a card in the gift basket that says "your December cell phone bill has been taken care of".
A sketch pad and some pencils/charcoal pencils/colored pencils, word searches, puzzles, DVD'S if there is a DVD Player accessible to him, magic tricks he can learn himself- the mind puzzles you can get in Target ,
Just be creative and ask the employee what his sons interests might be. Does he know how to play chess ? Just a few suggestions,....
I think an amazon gift card would be great. That way he can get exactly what he wants. For instance you don't know if he has a game concole that had can play video games on at the hopital and if he does what games he has or wants. I know my 14 almost 15 year old usually wants video games, music and movies.
I would opt for things he can do and skills he can work on, by himself and while stuck in bed. For example:
-Rushhour by Thinkfun (very popular game at our house)
-a tablet to watch movies on
-the supplies, a how-to book and carry case to create fly fishing lures
-Lego has a new Robotics set that is quite complex - it might keep him interested and busy, plus there is a whole online community that competes and challenges each other
-ipod, itunes card and noise cancelling headphones
-animation software and a tablet
-deck of cards
-vocabulary prep book - may as well use this time productively :)
I love that you're doing this, for this family. How generous and thoughtful.
Child's Play Charity does just this - provides toys and games for children stuck in the hospital. I would look at some of their local lists and see what the hospitals are asking for. Find out if he can have access to a video game system and buy some games that are compatible. If he can use a computer, then can he use Hulu or NetFlix? When my nephew was in the NICU his parents appreciated both Starbucks gift cards and easy to eat/on the go food like granola bars. Find out if someone will be able to stay with him and if a personal blanket or pillow is allowed.
My SS is in his 20s and apparently DS games and Pokemon and Yu Gi Oh are making a comeback. Find out if he has a DS and if he would like any games for it.
If he doesn't already have an ipad to load games on, you can get a decent model for a few hundred dollars. It's something he can have fun on and continue to use when he gets out. You could even get Itunes cards so he can buy games.
Find out if he's interested in art or model making. If he is, then a whole bunch of supplies would probably be welcome. If he's a reader, then an amazon gift card might be just the thing.
As for the family, while I've never experienced anything on the level of what this family is going through, I have had a child hospitalized, and among the things that would have been a great help to me would have been cleaning service. Seriously - the dad at home with all the kids would probably kiss y'all for it. Depending on how well he manages cooking, personal chef service might also be a helpful option.
For the mom who will be with her son and separated from her family, a gift card to a restaurant or coffee shop near the hospital would probably be welcome. So might a temporary gym membership or a yoga class pass. So might a certificate for a massage. She'll be weary, and she'll need a way to take a break or relieve stress.
The "Kendama" toy, is real big here now with kids of all ages, from Elementary to Middle School to High School.
You can buy it online.
Also for this age, well, video games or hand held tech gadgets.
Books
Magazines
Gift Cards... for like iTunes, Target, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, restaurants
Books, a kindle, nintendo D's or similar handheld video game system
Does he have an ipod / computer / kindle / nook / dsi? Gift cards to use to buy stuff online for those electronics. they sell microsoft points that kids like because they can buy the latest stuff to go with the electronic stuff. barns and noble card to buy books for nook / or to have the actual item shipped to the hospital to him.
warm socks
sweatpants / shirts
trivia games he can play with nurses / staff as they come in and out of the room
snacks he can help himself to.
I was thinking an Amazon gift card. They have everything and anything!
