Practical Ideas please! Major surgery for my neighbour's little girl.

OKay, so I've met a lot of wonderful people since I moved to this townhouse complex I live in, and we love my neighbour to pieces, she's just the sweetest lady ever. Her jerk of a husband left her and her three children and she's been working three jobs to support them. Oh, and let's not forget to mention that her youngest daughter was born with heart and lung defects that made the doctors suggest she'd never see her second birthday. Well, here she is 11 years old, with I think four open heart surgeries under her belt. But there have been problems lately. She really needs a double lung and heart transplant. But there is an experimental surgery that could be performed. They just got a call today that the surgery has been scheduled for two weeks time...so they will be living in a motel near the hospital, I think for two weeks at least.

Any of you who might have experienced something like this, please tell me, is there anything practical I can do to help? Anything their family might need while gone? I am already petsitting their zoo (birds, fish, cat, hampster, lizard and hedgehogs...) for the two-weeks to a month that they will be in the big city. I'd love to put together a gift basket though, and I'm kind of bad at this stuff.

Any ideas?

How about a basketful of healthy snacks for them to be able to eat from? I know living in a motel away from home is going to mean a lot of bad food because it's convenient and she's going to be on the go all the time. Find out if she has a fridge where she's staying to help with broader choices.


Maybe a basket of kid friendly activities for them to play?

Is someone watching for mail and papers?

Maybe some rolls of quarters to pay for the laundry mat they will be using while in the motel.

Aww, that's so sad... I really hope the experimental surgery works out.

We used to spend a lot of time in the city when I was young because my dad fought a lot with cancer so I'm trying to think back to what was or would've been nice....

Gift cards for a couple different restaurants/fast food joints! One can only handle so much hospital food and sometimes the days are just too tiring to cook anything (if they have a kitchenette in their motel).

Hmm... maybe some games, craft kits, movies etc. to help them pass the time together.

No flowers, those get old after a while... unless they don't have a lot of family/friends.

I can think of tons of things for when they get BACK but that's all I can think of for while they're gone. I'll think of more, I'm sure.

Too slow!

My neighbor went through something like this. You may want to find out what stores are nearby and get gift cards to places that are closeby. Target, fast food, grocery, and maybe a book store so that she can pick up a book or magazine. Decks of cards for the kids--one each to avoid squabbles. Rolls of quarters and $1 and $5 bills in good condition for the vending machines. Even a board game since they will be on one location. Granola/breakfast bars so that they can eat on the go. Phone cards, but of course, everyone has cell phones these days....

I would do incedentals. You know, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo. So that they don't have to rob the house for supplies. Then they would just have to shop when they get back. I would also do dunkin or starbucks cards. I am sure they will need a lot of coffee.

thanks everyone, these are awesome ideas. I wish I had more $$$ to share with her, so for now it'll have to be a few of these ideas only. I know that they go to Tim Hortons a lot (I seem the come in with Timmies twice a day LOL - it's a Canadian thing!) so I'm for sure going to do a pre-pade Tim Hortons card (especially since all the hospitals have them too!). Thanks for the ideas everyone! I'm giong to talk to a few of our other neighbours and see if we want to do a package together.

THanks!

Aww, I'm so sad that they have to deal with another surgery! I hope it goes well for them!

I think its so nice of you to be doing something for them at this time! I don't have any other suggestions for you, but if I do I'll come back with some! Oh, and I agree... the Timmies card is a MUST, lol!

What about a basket of toiletries and other stuff like that? Since they'll be in a hotel, they'll need something like that.