mink blankets and other hospital survival items

11 years ago

My 13 year old DD has a good friend who is battling cancer. I remember when my DD was in the hospital with a very painful condition, a friend of mine gave us a mink blanket for her to lie on. She had used it when she was going thru cancer treatments and said it was the only thing that allowed her sleep when even the softest sheets seemed to be made of sandpaper. I've looked on ebay and there seem to be many different price points. What the heck makes a good mink blanket? I mean, most of them are hideous colours and patterns, but aside from that, is there anything I should be looking for?

Also, does anyone have any other ideas on what to include in a care package? I've already given them the heating pads that you heat in the micro and organized a food drive for them. Her condition has been ongoing for over a year and she's just had a major set back. I just want to do what I can for them and let them know we are still thinking of them.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (19)

golddust
11 years ago
I bought 'Mom' a mink blanket from Costco. It was under $20. and competed with the $75. blankets from other retailers, bar none. She loves it. I took it to her in the hospital, along with books. It's well over a year old and still beautiful.

A mink blanket, a puzzle book and a few magazines...
ILoveRed
11 years ago
Oh my goodness. Not fair at 13. That sucks.

What would a 13 yr old want or need to entertain her in the hospital (or to distract her).

How about...

iTunes gift card
Hard candy such as lemon drops
My boys love UNO
Flavored lip gloss
A used or new IPOD touch if she doesn't already have one, with some good headphones. ..i know--expensive
Someone's username and PW to their Netflix account ;-)
Related Discussions
Surviving without antihistamines - terrible ITCHING!
Q
Comments (17)
I have had Eczema, and it isn't fun. My worst itching came from allergic reactions to mosquitoes, but that was an obvious cause. My doctor said that food allergies are hard to identify, and that avoidance is the best way to find them. If I were you, I would go on a special diet of fruits and vegetables, and avoid those that are classic allergens. I could easily live on apples, oranges, grapefruit, and some other foods. I would try sweet potatoes, and some other foods that would give me the necessary nutrients for about 5 days, and I would eat those foods and no other. I would wash my sheets in a detergent that has no scent, and would rinse them about 3 times. I would avoid any dryer thing (those bother me, and cause itching.) I would try to allergy proof one room in the house and spend time there without animals. I would avoid candles and perfume - even scents in shampoo and other products. I know the itching you are describing, and it is very uncomfortable. It really is in another class besides itching because it feels like it is coming from your bones. You don't have shingles, do you? One cause of my eczema was HRT. I really wasn't allergic to it, but it was instrumental in drying my skin. I am allergic to eggs - all eggs even egg whites. I am allergic to whey, but not cheese. If I drink milk, I become a little uncomfortable sometimes, but if I eat a Stouffers meal, I become very sick. They are loaded with whey. My allergy shots have been great, but I have taken them for 25 years. I give them to myself once or twice a week, and can work outside whenever I want. I cannot mow the lawn, and must watch out for conditions where there is heavy dust. Do you take any medications at all? Have you been in touch with a regular doctor who can test you for something other than allergies, like a reaction to something the allergist might not think of (2nd opinion). My husband has bad allergies also, and got tired of the shots. He tried an allergist who relies on the blood test, and was told he had no allergies. My allergy shots work because I kept a log of what I ate, and when I felt bad. I was able to take that to the allergist, and he found what was in the air when I got sick. It took about 2 years to get it under control. I have had very bad reactions to medications, and the mosquito bites were serious. Good luck. Sammy
...See More
How DID we survive as children?
Q
Comments (39)
I survived, but not unscathed. Some didn't. The saddest funeral I ever attended was for a little boy I babysat; his mother didn't secure him in a car seat. He was thrown from her car and killed when a drunk driver hit them. When we had children I knew that I could not protect them against every bad thing, but I could take reasonable precautions. My mother didn't want to be inconvenienced by having to use car seats for my children, so I solved that problem by not letting them ride with her. Once I was 10, my parents rarely knew where I was during the summer or on weekends, since they played golf frequently. Sometimes Mom would forget to leave the spare key in its hiding place and I'd be locked out. If I had money I could ride my bike 3 miles to the DairyQueen to buy a Coke, but if not I'd get a drink from a neighbor's garden hose. There were worse consequences of their inattention, but I won't go into that here. None of us worried about sunblock, although we did use baby oil to keep from drying out while we baked. Everyone in my family has (or had) skin cancer, as do many of my friends. The ones who continued baking as adults now have skin that looks like tanned leather, dotted with light spots from the removal of melanomas. There was a lot of underage drinking, as well as a lot of partying by some of the parents, but I was too afraid of mom's beatings if she caught me drinking so that was postponed until college. Back then, the legal age was 18 in many places. There was also a lot of pot, in the schools as well as at the beach. Some people experimented with hard drugs; a few had very bad results. One dear friend, who was in my honors classes in high school, was artistically and musically talented while his siblings were focused on science and math; that didn't go over well at home. He self-medicated the emotional pain, then spent the next several decades in various psych hospitals. My mom nagged me about befriending a certain crowd at the country club, not knowing that the most "popular" kids were also the biggest dealers at the beach. In college (a good Jesuit school), the drug of choice for most students was quaaludes and I'd guess that at least half the students indulged in both pills and pot. Keggers in the Quad were common Friday afternoon events, with various student organizations hosting a party almost every week. Despite the lack of restrictions on drinking, there were other strictly enforced rules, and several girls from my dorm were sent packing for having guys spend the night. The guys' dorm was much looser, and RAs looked the other way when girls were there after visiting hours. I never saw a pregnant student on campus, but I did know/know of several girls who suddenly transferred to the state school back home. This was before folks knew about HIV, so physical barrier precautions were scorned and the Pill was popular. My last roommate graduated a semester early, filled with deep hatred toward all men and a nasty case of genital herpes (which freaked me out, naive as I still was.) It seems like people were less informed about drug interactions or concerns about mixing certain Rx drugs with alcohol. A friend died because she didn't realize that she should not mix alcohol and her Rx. The authorities guessed that the combination made it difficult for her to recall if she'd taken her proper dose and she accidentally over medicated. I know that some warning labels seems like too much CYA litigation prevention, but I wish the health care industry had shared more information with patients sooner. My husband grew up in the midwest, and his experiences or recollections are worse/scarier than mine. His family lived in an affluent bedroom community of a large city, and all of the kids attended various private schools. He had a devoted and loving mother but she was so busy with a very large number of children that she couldn't have supervised all of them adequately even if she thought it necessary. It just wasn't common for parents to be so involved in the '60s - '70s, for better or for worse. The kids did enjoy a lot more freedom and seemed to become independent sooner, but there was a downside as well. Underage drinking was one problem, but drugs were much worse. When I look at my children's generation, I wonder how many of their medical and behavioral issues are related to their parents' drug use. When I got to college, I was stunned to learn about the extent of drug experimentation (cocaine & LSD, among other things.) So I am one of the lucky ones, just because I'm still alive. But I have scars, both emotional and physical, that will never completely fade. I tried to find a balance between being too lax and hovering with my own children, but what I thought was being prudent was seen as overly protective by my parents and in-laws. Yet my kids still climbed trees, rode zip lines, shot pellet guns, went white water rafting & kayaking, flew in ultralights, tried snow skiing & snowboarding, etc., and I have plenty of grey hairs to attest to their exploits. ;-)
...See More
Survived Katrina
Q
Comments (103)
Hello again friends. I continue to be amazed by your kindness and concern. Paulines and Elizabeth10029 - if you are back in here reading, yes by all means please feel free to save these posts. ALL OF YOU have my permission (and gratitude) to keep or share what I have written. I am humbled by the thought that my words have meant so much. There are so many more stories here that need to be told. The political firestorms have been whipped up to a frenzy over the past few weeks. I am sure many of you have heard on the national news the statements our mayor, Ray Nagin, made this week during his MLK celebratory speech about making the city of New Orleans "chocolate". Well, of course, the whole city is now in an uproar. I really think he is suffering from "Katrina fatigue". This mayor was very, very well liked by the most of the city - all different races. Now, he has become a symbol of division. And this comes at a time, when we must really pull together and present a rational, unified front. I am embarrassed and concerned about the damage he has done - the whole world is watching us. And I think the image he put forth is so misleading. While to the outside world it appears that there is a huge racial divide - in reality, New Orleans incorporates her diversity far better than many other cities. One of my dearest friends of 30+ years is african american - and she has spent the past few months living in my home. Our families vacation together every year. My other best friends are indonesian, hispanic, and greek - I am the "token wasp!" I have wonderful friends from as far away as Syria and VietNam. And I am not uncommon. Most New Orleanians work with, laugh and play with, cry and mourn with the many diverse people here. The problem arises when poverty and crime are added to the equation. I have no answers, only more questions. As do the other good people (of all races) who live here. We shake our heads in dismay and write letters to the editor! We are in dire need of effective leadership - and it is sadly lacking. The initial rebuilding plans for the city were just released and are being evaluated now. There is just no way possible to make everyone happy. We have to choose safety over everything else. Some people are simply not going to be allowed to rebuild their neighborhoods. It is so sad, tragic. But it would be insane to allow these people to live in harms way - even if they really WANT to! Desperate times make for desperate decisions, and some people just cannot believe or trust that the engineers and experts are telling the truth about where to rebuild or not. The next few months are going to be critical ones - will the city of New Orleans succeed in creating a plan for rebuilding better and stronger and wiser than before? Or will history repeat itself? Can we get congress to give us Netherlands-quality category 5 hurricane levees? Are we valued? President Bush visited last week and commented that "this is looking like the New ORleans I remember". Well, that was voted as the most ridiculous statement of last week. He saw the French Quarter (which did not flood at all) and the Garden District (which did not flood at all). It's just unbelievable. Only 30% of New Orleans has lights. That's right. It is pitch black at night. And cold. No heat, no lights, no phones. My friend's neighborhood - about half a mile from me - still has no working phone lines. Not one single person I know, who lived in the areas of New Orleans that flooded, has been able to move back into their house. People in Jefferson Parish (suburb of New Orleans, where I live) are able to rebuild now and some have been able to move back. It is absolutely still a disaster zone. And it will remain so until the city institutes a viable rebuilding plan - which appears to be months away yet. I am leaving tomorrow to visit DD back in Michigan for a week. It will be wonderful to get away from the daily bombardment of Katrina news. Of course, she calls almost daily (and usually right after the 6pm news) and at the top of her list is "Mom, why don't you sell your house and move up here?" Honestly, I do think about it. But, I have decided to give it one year here and if we cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel by then...well, I will have to make some very hard decisions. Meanwhile, I will play with precious grandson, enjoy the clean beautiful snow of Michigan, and my beautiful DD, and leave the troubles of New Orleans behind for a while.
...See More
latest baby blanket and hat for preemies
Q
Comments (26)
orch, here is the pattern I used for the crocheted preemie blanket, and I used a size F hook.. just worked the colors the way I wanted them.. you can do the same.. and I surely can not remember where I put the hat pattern , but I will find it. I did not put any fringe on the baby blanket..and I just used yarn that I had gotten from Wal-Mart a little while back and this was left over from that project.. you could use any color combination that you wanted.. I think even lite green and yellow would be pretty.. or pink and white. pink and green also.. or just all white and edge with what ever color you wanted. Baby Ripple Afghan Lion BrandÂ® Terryspun GAUGE: Each repeat = 5 inches (13 cm) wide; 4 inches [10 cm] high. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles. STITCH EXPLANATION: Beg dec Pull up a Ip in first 2 sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. End dec Pull up a lp in last 2 Sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. NOTES: When changing to A, B, or C from MC, first row is worked through both loops. AFGHAN (multiple of 13 sts) With A, ch 77. Row 1 (RS) With A, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, *skip 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch; repeat from *. Rows 2-4 Ch 1, tum. Working in back loops only, work beg dec, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Rows 5 and 6 With MC, ch 1, tum. Working in both loops, work beg decrease, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Row 7 With B, repeat Row 5. Rows 8-10 Work as for Rows 2-4. Rows 11 and 12 With MC, repeat Rows 5 and 6. Rows 13-16 With C repeat Rows 7-10. Repeat Rows 11-16 keeping to MC as established on Rows 11 and 12 and alternating colors on Rows 13-16,2 times more Fasten off.
...See More
daisychain01
Original Author
11 years ago
good to know, gold dust. I will try to get to Costco tomorrow.

redlover, those are all great suggestions. Fortunately, her family is able to afford the electronics, but we do send iTunes giftcards every once in a while. My dd and I have just become addicted to Downton Abbey, so maybe we'll send her another card with the suggestion that she download season 1. I'd forgotten about how wonderful lemon drops can be when your mouth is dry and foul from being in the hospital. I will pick some of those up. And, yes, it really does suck. Everything had been going as well as it possibly could have and she'd just finished treatment and for them to be hit again, makes me want to scream at the universe.
deegw
11 years ago
I'm so sorry about your daughter's friend. How heartbreaking.

My 15 yo loves all things girly. She and her friends can entertain themselves for hours doing their hair, nails, eyes, face masks, etc.

If you think she can tolerate the smell and mess, I would go to town in the beauty aisle. Makeup mirror, nail polish, remover, cotton balls, q tips, eye shadow, eye liner, false eyelashes!, makeup remover, beauty masks, curling iron, temporary hair color streaks, etc.

If she's too sick to do things herself, her Mom might enjoy polishing her nails and toes as a a distraction.

Saying a prayer for your daughter's friend.
daisychain01
Original Author
11 years ago
What a fun idea, deee. Make up might be distraction for both mom and daughter. Appreciate your prayers.

I should probably start a separate thread for this, but I also wanted to suggest (for those who are comfortable with doing so) that they get tested for stem cell and bone marrow donation. My dd's friend is in need of a bone marrow transplant, but she is a rare type and all friends and family are being tested. This is a slow process and we all wish we had been tested previously. To help others who are in need in the future, the best thing is to have a big pool of donors (donors can be found internationally). I only have the link to the Canadian site, but maybe someone could find the American site and link that as well. Thank you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian Blood Services
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
So sorry to hear this.

Different kinds of lotion were always welcome in the hospital as skin can get so dry and some have the most amazing fragrances...and lavender is supposed to help you sleep.
tuesday_2008
11 years ago
I've always included a roll of quarters in care baskets for vending machines. Of course, this is for the family caretakers spending extended time in a hospital. So convenient for water, soft drinks, and snacks.
juliekcmo
11 years ago
And it sounds a bit corny, but when DD was in the hospital, those word search puzzles were a big hit. Because if you have the IV in the hand you write with, you can still hold a pen and circle the words with your other hand. Not getting bored can be a challenge.
roarah
11 years ago
When I was young and in the hospital, I received a locket necklace to keep a picture of my mother in, back than parents could not spend the night with young children. It helped me feel surround by those I loved. Maybe make her a photobook(I think shutterfly does them) of all her friends and family and happier times. I think before a transplant, patients are often in protective isolation for periods of time and might be lonely:(

I hope with all my heart your friend receives a cure!
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I was watching one of my sewing tv programs and they had a bunch of volunteers who were making fun and colorful pillowcases to jazz up the hospital room for kids...they made them themed for what the kids liked...soccer or horses or cats or even Justin Bieber fabric or whatever. They were cotton so easy to wash and dry.
roobear
11 years ago
How about making a "smile" or "feel good" jar?

Just take a pretty large glass/plastic jar or decorative box (you can decorate the outside yourself to make it more personal) and fill it with tons of folded slips of paper with encouraging/positive quotes, jokes, happy memories from family and friends, personal caring notes etc.

I like to use scrapbooking paper, plain white on one side for writing/printing on, so each slip is pretty and decorative when folded over.

Then the person can pull out one (or two or three) when they are feeling down, lonely, just need a pick me up etc.

I hope she finds a match soon, my husband had a BMT when he was 8 due to a rare genetic disease, his father became his donor (unmatched) because his sister, who was a match couldn't donate because there was a possibility she was a carrier of the same disease. Females are carriers of it, but males are the ones affected by it. He pulled through fine even with it not being a match, really hoping your daughter's friend does too.
polly929
11 years ago
Please make sure before you purchase the mink blanket that it will be allowed for use in an immunocompromised patient. The hospital where I work there are a lot of restrictions for the immunocompromised.
daisychain01
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you everyone for such wonderful ideas.

annie, your pillow case idea reminded me that last year when she was diagnosed with the first cancer, the kids in her class each decorated a square of white cotton with a picture and a get better wish. The principal sewed them into a duvet cover with the school colours as trim. It looked so great when it was finished and I know she really appreciated it.

Polly, I don't have the fabric content right here, but I imagine they are all poly or acryllc blends. Do you think it might be a problem if that is the content? Is there a type of fabric I should avoid specifically?
polly929
11 years ago
I'm not sure, you can check with the hospital floor where she is an inpatient and ask if they have restrictions. Where I am in NICU, stuffed animals and balloons are banned, but blankets from home are allowed, but they must be washed in hot water. Not sure what the policy is on cancer patients with compromised immune systems.
daisychain01
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you, polly. I will check. My dd was on the cancer ward for a month when she was little (she had another disease, but that was the only floor they had space to put her) and I remember having to take extra precautions to keep the other patients safe. Her friend is still at home for a good portion of the time, so I may buy it anyways for her to use there.
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
daisychain, that duvet sounds so wonderful...being blanketed in good thoughts and well wishes!
patty_cakes
11 years ago
How about a comfy, fluffy 'personal' pillow instead of the rubber/plastic covered, hard, flat as a board hospital pillow? Maybe two, for when she wants to sit up and read, do crosswords, etc.
daisychain01
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you so much, patty cakes. I've dropped off the gift already, but unfortunately, it will be an ongoing process and I would like to keep dropping off things now and then, so I will keep that in mind. They had a very rough weekend and we were all preparing for the worst, but she seems to have turned the corner and we are all breathing a wary sigh of relief.
Bethpen
11 years ago
Daisy,
What is the girl's first name. I would love to say some prayers for her.

Beth P.

mink blankets and other hospital survival items

Comments (19)

golddust

ILoveRed

Related Discussions

daisychain01
Original Author

deegw

daisychain01
Original Author

Annie Deighnaugh

tuesday_2008

juliekcmo

roarah

Annie Deighnaugh

roobear

polly929

daisychain01
Original Author

polly929

daisychain01
Original Author

Annie Deighnaugh

patty_cakes

daisychain01
Original Author

Bethpen

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

mink blankets and other hospital survival items

Comments (19)

Related Discussions

daisychain01Original Author

daisychain01Original Author

daisychain01Original Author

daisychain01Original Author

daisychain01Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

daisychain01
Original Author

daisychain01
Original Author

daisychain01
Original Author

daisychain01
Original Author

daisychain01
Original Author