Yesterday, we made Chemo Care Packages.
The boys' grandfather has been going through chemotherapy and I have had a hard time helping the boys understand what this is all about for him. So, I decided to put together a chemo care package to send him and to donate to a local oncology center.
At the store, we gathered:
- two sets of plastic utensils (fork/knife/spoon) for each package from IKEA (evidently metal utensils taste bad),
- stuff for the bad taste in the mouth from chemo (lemon drops/gum),
- hand sanitizer,
- lip balm,
- disposable toothbrushes,
- a notepad with the most darling drawings and messages from the boys
- . . . other ideas warm socks/fleece blanket or pashmina and itune gift cards.
We originally got the idea from Remembering Chemo and Chemo Care Packages a post on Life as a Survivor.
We purchased enough supplies for 6 kits. One for a very, very special family member.
You know who you are and we love YOU!
The boys added drawings and special messages to the beginning page of the journals.
The packages are ready! One will be mailed. The others we will drop off at a local oncology office.
Chemo was something that was hard for the kids to understand. Truly, I don't know that you can understand what it is like unless you or someone close to you goes through it. I'm on the look out for children's books that will help teach my boys about what it is like.
Other sites to learn more about what it is like to go through chemo:
To Find Out How the Package Delivery Went--Read
Chemo Care Kits for Kids
Books on Service and Kindness:
This is wonderful. It's so hard to know what to do for people who are so sick that even meals aren't something to look forward to. Your ideas are great!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anna! It is hard to know what to do, but we all know we should do something. I enjoyed taking a look at the work that you do with the young ones. Great resources!
DeleteGreat idea. Another idea of something to add might be ginger chews, candy, tea or something - it is supposed to help with nausea. I gave some to a friend going through chemo and I think it helped. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions! I'll add to that list. I checked out your blog. So lovely! The "What a Ham" post pictures were hysterical!
DeleteThank you for this idea. My father is going through chemo now. My son and nephew don't understand why Poppy is at the doctors all the time now instead of playing with them. My sister and I are going to have the kids make some bags to take to the chemo center my father goes to.
ReplyDeleteJenn--I hope that this helps them begin to understand. I have yet to figure out a way to explain it to my boys. In case you need other ideas, check out the pinterest board: Serve Those with Medical Needs http://pinterest.com/penniesoftime/serve-those-with-medical-needs/
DeleteHi again - I had a comment earlier :) I shared this post on my Facebook page as part of our KBN shout out -- you can see it here : https://www.facebook.com/themeasuredmom
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anna! I really appreciate it (and love what you do!)!
DeleteYou can even include Act Dry Mouth tablets too. They tend to have dry mouth when going through Chemo and for a bit afterwards.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hadn't heard of that product before--off to search about it and learn more. Thanks!
DeleteThis is just WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteMy mom spent 3 months in the Oncology unit. And she beat it!
I don't think your boys would interested, but (with permission from the nurses), I spent a lot of time giving manis and pedis. Truth is, I am the one who got so much out of it!
What a fantastic blessing you must have been to that unit. And I am so happy your mom beat her cancer! YAY! My boys do like to paint . . . but I don't think anyone would be willing to volunteer their own hands for that job. I do know some very funny and talented young ladies that would love to do what you did as a service event. Thanks for the inspiration!
DeleteIf there is someone in your life going through chemo, especially a child, check out Chemo Ducks! Awesome tool to help manage the situation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! I am off to learn more about it.
DeleteMd anderson has a cute children's pamphlet about cancer. I had a friend send it to me maybe you could contact them for more information.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know! I will follow up on this for sure!
DeleteI just saw your post about chemo bags and I love it. I have a friend about to go through chemo for a second time. When my Husband was going through his chemo we noticed that there was a space near a window that the patients almost fought over. I purchased a birdfeeder to have placed outside and the nurses told me it even became a favorite place for them to look out as well. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteMissy! What a great idea! We are totally going to scope out the window areas at our local oncology unit. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteA friend of mine wrote a book for kids as a way to explain to her kids about her breast cancer diagnosis. It is Called "Our Mama is a Beautifil Garden" by Katy Stanoch. It is s beautiful book that will help you explain this. I love your idea and will be using it in my two troops! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting and letting me know about this new book! I can't wait to get one!
Deletehttp://www.rhythmelodic.com/mamasgarden
DeleteWhat a wonderful blessing for the people going through cancer.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they have anything like this organization in your area, but they really help us when I was going through my treatment. My husband had cancer the year before in 2009. I was diagnosed in 2010. My son has Aspergers and logically it made sense to him that his older sister would get it next and then he would follow. It was hard to get him to understand that it doesn't work that way. Maybe you could contact them and see if they have any resources they can share - here is the link:
http://www.wondersandworries.org/
Thanks, Yolanda! I am going to check out the link right now. And, I am glad that they were able to help your son. It is difficult to understand. Thank you for your comment!
DeleteThis is ideal. Expecially including children to complete the care packages, because children are so creative. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThe do make a toothpaste that helps dry mouth immensely (biotene?) and I've seen it at the grocery store. There is also a certain sort of berry that is made into tablets, that allows anything that a person eats to taste sweet. They just take the tablet before their meal. The company that makes them has donated hundreds of thousands of the tablets to cancer patients. I'm sure that it would be a quick research
ReplyDelete