Birthday ideas for chemo patient

amandab308

My mum is turning 60 v soon and I am stuck for ideas as to what I can do for her birthday. She has been having chemotherapy treatment so unable to do a lot of the usual things and has to avoid lots of public places due to potential for aquiring infections. I don't want to just get flowers etc but am really struggling to come up with something SPECIAL.

Any ideas really welcome :-)

qwiksave

What about a memory album? Have you photos you could put together of family? If you only have a few you could write the story behind each photo with it. Maybe visit places she knows, or where she/you grew up and take photos of how it looks now? You also have the option of printing them in a book in places like Boots or Jessops or maybe online.

globalds

You could make a video ....Or better get all your friends and family to make say a 3 or 4 minute video each then you could stitch them altogether and give her that ...If you asked people to record in places they know she loves then it would be almost like she was going their.

If you have problem with the technology ...MSE has an area just for that and I'm sure you would get all the help you need if you were to ask.

mum2one

if you go via vistaprint, they do have some good offers, the best bet is sign up, they usually send "free item" emails, - just pay postage, and u get some lovely items personalised.
Pen, notepaper, if she is in and out of hospital and wants to write a letter, a photo album, little messages on, mug with family photo?

amandab308

Thank-you for your fab suggestions :-)

Scorpio_girlie

Hi
Sorry to hear that your Mum is having to go through chemo, my Mum has just had her last session, so I know how difficult it is to organise things to do/buy.

We arranged a picnic for Mum which was lovely (it was a nice day)! We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, so just went on a small walk and stopped off for the picnic somewhere remote. That way, we were in the open air (less risk of infection) and less chance of bumping into lots of people.

We also did a lovely photo album of our last family outing before she started her chemo.

Is your Mum coping well with the chemo? Is she finding her skin is very sensitive etc? If her hands are very dry, you could get her some really nice hand cream, and possibly some cotton gloves.

A nice lipstick to make her feel feminine. A nice eye pencil if she has lost her eyebrows.

If I think of anymore I will add later.

SG x

Oldernotwiser

A trip in a hot air balloon could be fantastic.

beverleyhills

A good quality manuka honey. it is considered to have healing properties. A teaspoon a day.

Diflower

I can understand you wanting to make your mum's birthday special, but maybe suggest you celebrate 60+1 next year more openly, and stick to just little treats and special gifts for this one?
No doubt your mum's short of energy anyhow, and it can get worrying if you think you need to make an effort, to go out or whatever. It's really much better to play it by ear; have you asked her what she might like to do?
As for the presents, I agree about the really nice hand cream, it was the present I appreciated the most. I had a nap every afternoon, and I would put on my L'Occitane lavender handcream and sink straight into sleep with that lovely scent.
The honey would be really lovely too:)

Mayflower10cat

A dear friend was undergoing chemo some years ago and I sent all her all sorts of silly little things over the months to amuse her - I made a compilation CD of her favourite music, I wrote a humorous piece about her cats, I bought her favourite expensive chocolate and also some essential oils and some of my own lavender from the garden. Everything was very personal and I think that's what she liked. For another friend who was very ill, I sewed a large lavender sachet in pretty silk and lace, which she tucked inside her pillow to help her sleep.

I'm visiting a friend tomorrow who sadly, is also undergoing chemo. I started painting again earlier this year and have done various commissions - this dear friend encouraged me to DO IT!!!! I'm taking her a watercolour I've been working on for some weeks, featuring cats and flowers ( she loves both!) and also a CD of all the lovely music I was listening to as I was painting. I'll also cut some roses from my garden and tie them with ribbon for her, too.

Just choose something personal, gentle and loving. And uplifting. xxx