Monday, May 17, 2010

Suggestions of a great gift basket? its for my y grandpa who is on kemo for prostate cancer...?

My grandpa is on kemo for prostate cancer. He's not nauseous and still has his appetite, but is diabetic- so sending sweets is out. He is so weak and tired- I live in NY and he's in Idaho- I can't be there to care for him but want to show him I still care so much- Do you have any thoughtful practical gift ideas?


I call weekly to talk and tell him I love him- I just want to give something tangible that can help him feel better...


i think i should give my grandma something too- she's going through soo much right now with him being sick... (they just had their 60th aniversary!)

Suggestions of a great gift basket? its for my y grandpa who is on kemo for prostate cancer...?
Be sure to know if he is on any special diet before you send food. For example, some chemo patients become neutropenic during treatment. This means the the white blood cell count is low, making it hard to fight infections. This happens because chemo can't tell the difference in bad cells and good, and sometimes kill the good as well.





During the time when the white blood count is low, most patients are forbidden to eat most fresh fruits and veggies. This is because the immune system can't fight the bacteria and pesticides as a person with normal blood counts can.





Washing them does not help because the skin of most fruits and veggies is pourous, allowing bacteria and pesticides to seep through the skin into the fruit it self.





IF this is the case with your grandpa, your docs would have went over this extremly well and your he would definatly know about. So, if you ask, he will be able to tell you.





Also, sometimes foods that you love can make you sick while you are on chemo. The treatment can change your taste bud making things not taste right, or make you very sensitive to smells. This smell sensitivity can make things smell horrible and make you nausuas.





So, just ask him if there are any foods he cant have or would rather not have.





Other things that would be good to give would be crossword puzzles or word searches if they are into that. Good way of making the time pass.
Reply:mixed fruits with cheese and crackers and diet pop
Reply:so very very sorry to hear about your grandpa. Maybe a couple of good books, pictures of the family,put together some old and recent pic's of the family including animals...that might help. Also, why don't you write him something special like how much he means to you and maybe bring up all the good times you guys had together. If he likes to draw, place paper,pens,markers,etc.....he might like that. If he can have fruit....a nice little basket would be nice.If I think of anything else i will write back. Good luck to you and your grandpa........everything will turn out ok....have faith sweetie...........
Reply:a fun idea would be to buy some old magazines (like a LIFE mag with his favorite old movie star on the cover or an important event to him) from when he was a young scrapper off of ebay that he can read and laugh and have memories about...or get some old movies that he can watch to take his mind off things.
Reply:flowers, fruits, maybe chocolate candy
Reply:I am sorry. You are already doing the most important thing which is talking with him. His diet is limited so gift baskets which usually have food in them would be very difficult. How about a balloon bouquet? It is cheerful. Or send the gift basket with your grandmother in mind so she can snack. Most good florists have fruit baskets. But a wonderful feel better card with a nice letter in it containing memories and why you love him, etc would be super too. It is a difficult time and they are lucky to have such a considerate granddaughter since most young people avoid this time and feel scared of it. But we will be there where they are someday because it ( old age) happens to everyone usually. That is wonderful they had a 60th anniversary
Reply:have you sent a resent picture of you? If not have a nice 8x10 taken and send it, they will both love it I'm sure. When you ask how Grandpa is doing be sure to ask Grandma too, sometimes we forget the care givers, and they are going through a lot too. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Reply:How about some movies (VHS, DVD) and some microwave popcorn.
Reply:a wig

lilycare

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