Part 0800.0005

[craftyhunnypie]

Hi everyone.

Yesterday, my dad had open heart surgery to replace 2 heart valves, due to infective endocarditis attacking his own valves. He is still in critical care, but he had his 1st cup of tea today & even stomached an omelette. He also gave us a smile - bless him. Obviously he is high as a kite & talking jibberish, but I am so relieved he is on the long long road to recovery. ( He has to stay in hospital for 6 weeks, to ensure the infection has totally gone).

My question is - I am going over to see him & want to take some gifts that will be really appreciated by him to aid his recovery & to cheer him up. Whether these be bought, made or both I need some ideas.

Help!

If I wrote garbage the past few days, you now know why! (sorry).

Emma.x

[Chicken deficient]

I hope your father gets well soon.

How about a Kindle with some good books on it, or the loan of an ipad or something with films on it that he'd like. When a friend of mine was in hospital for a long time, he was handing out boxes of chocolates he'd been given to visitors, and begging for books!

[Willow]

Glad to hear he is on the road to recovery, that must be a huge relief

 

Does he read the paper ? I remember being bored in hospital but not up to a book or even movies. I did get addicted to watching House post op

 

Is he doesn't already have a V pillow he may well find that makes him more comfortable sitting up in bed.

 

Slippers even (especially) if he doesn't normally wear them.

 

The other thing I remember being desperate for was interesting drinks - nice juices that sort of thing.

[patsylabrador]

I've been buying FOCUS magazine for my Dad for a few years now. It's very interesting and readable. I read it too and so it gives us lots to talk about.

[SarahJo]

Wishing your dad a speedy recovery - I know my dad always liked fresh fruit & juices like others have said. Also books/puzzles etc as boredom busters. Slippers a must and moisturiser - bizarre as it sounds but hospitals are very drying and skin is important as a defence against bugs

 

Sarah x

[Nikipins]

I spent a month in hospital a few years ago, a lot of the time unable to move much and with double vision so not able to read or watch tele for long. I found talking books downloaded on to an iPod and a set of headphones invaluable, I listened to loads of books and it certainly helped the time pass. I noticed our local library lends talking books ready loaded onto a portable player that you just plug a pair of headphones into and away you go, so if you don't have an iPod or similar this might be a cheap option if you library does the same.

 

I hope your dad gets well soon.

[Grandmashazzie]

My daughter was in recently for major surgery we both found baby wipes useful and nappy liner bags for popping rubbish in .When she started eating she didn't like hosp food and I went out to get her little snacks she craved savoury things and had no interest in chocolate stuff which visitors bought .Also lip balm and as said hand cream,it will be really bonding to massage your dads hands and feet and very relaxing for you both.Take care of yourself and try not to miss meals if your at hosp all day,it's so draining for you as well.Hope all goes well,in spite of all that's said about NHS it's great when you need it.

[redhotchick]

Hope your dad is ok. I think it will be difficult for him not to get bored if he is in for that long. Quite a challenge. Personally I find computer games absorbing, might be worth investing in a DS? My niece had the inspector Leighton game, I loved it, more interesting and not as tiring as say, Tetris, which I can pass hours on! Doesn't the brain trainer come with a DS? And you can play sudoku on them I think? My dad likes crosswords.

Maybe get him a lovely notebook and ask him to write some stories from his life, about himself, you, anything really!

Get him notepaper envelopes and stamps, he could write to all those people he's been meaning to catch up with?

When bored and confined my OH likes the fishing app on his phone.

Would he be interested in learning a new skill or a language? Braille? Or model making?

Bearing in mind that this may be for 6 weeks, perhaps you could plan to give him a new thing to do each week? To keep it fresh?

[craftyhunnypie]

I've got him some little bottles of diet pepsi & will get some juice. I got him some suduko & puzzle books, some juicy jelly sweets, a Toblerone (because he loves it) & A National Geographic magazine - all about travel - he will love that.

Hand cream & lip balm are very good ideas! Books - he's got those. I got him a tacky little trophy too. Just a little token to remind him of how very brave he's been & for him to look back on in a few months time. He is on the ward now, out of critical care - thank goodness. My poor dad.

Keep the ideas coming!

Emma.x

[charly1979]

I've got him some little bottles of diet pepsi & will get some juice.

 

Exactly what I was going to suggest after my accident back in 2000 I had a work collegue who would bring me in cans of coke and it was brilliant as the larger bottles often went flat and having a leg tied up in some traction frame thing made pouring difficult. I loved having my portable cd player to listen to

 

Hope that he has a speedy recovery xx

[Luvachicken]

I wish your Dad a speedy recovery too.

We bought my Mum a pocket Yahtzee - a little hand held battery game a bit like calculator size. She loved it and hates it if anyone beats her high score. And it passed a lot of time.