I thought I would do a related post for anyone who might want to help a friend who has a hospitalized child (bless you!) Here are some things that meant so much to me, or would have meant so much to me (because Sophia's hospitalizations have been out of state, we didn't have as much of an immediate support system there, but are still so thankful for the friends and family we did have!)
-Come visit! Honestly, the thing I wanted most whenever I was spending days and days living in a hospital was just company. I think sometimes people aren't sure if they're intruding or interrupting, or think they have nothing to offer, but I can tell you that just having another adult in the room to BE with was the best. I'm no good at asking for help, and I spent some very lonely sad days in the hospital with Amelia (this was in our hometown, and Davis was home with Sophia). I had so many friends I could have - and should have! - called to come see me, but I didn't want to bother them.
-Bring food. I am SO thankful for all the people who fed Davis and Sophia while Amelia and I were in the hospital - we had several great friends and family members pitch in to invite them over and bring dishes to the house, which was great. But I absolutely CHERISHED the times that someone brought me food. I have now had the (dis)pleasure of eating food at two children's hospitals, and let me tell you, it's yuck. And since I was breastfeeding most of those stays, I was famished all of the time. Even McDonald's tasted heavenly compared to hospital food! So, if you're going by to visit, ask what food you can stop and pick up along the way. Or if it's not a meal time, bring some yummy snacks and drinks that don't require refrigeration.
-Although we adore ALL of the (millions!) of stuffed animals we got (really, we do!!) here are some other gift ideas for a child... coloring books and crayons, a small magnadoodle, card games, DVDs, small toys (Sophia discovered My Little Ponies while in the hospital), finger puppets, puzzles, and books.
-If you're a seamstress, and you know ahead of time child is going to have surgery and/or be hospitalized, make a hospital gown for him or her. My mother in law and I winged it on a pattern, and made several cute ones out of ultra-soft flannel. The gowns they have at the hospital are uncomfortable poly and not very soft or warm (or cute). Here are some of our creations:
-If you'd like to bring something for mom and dad, suggestions are... reading material (magazines that require little concentration are great), notecards for thank you's, hand lotion to combat that corrosive hospital soap (this is the. best. ever. http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P39674&categoryId=C11831), food. Oh, did I mention food already? ;)
- Ask how you can help... and be persistent. Pick up dry cleaning? Gas up the car? Pick up a prescription? Babysit the other kids? Again, for me, it was so hard to ask for help - partly because I hate asking for help, and partly because I didn't know what I needed. Having a friend offer to do something specific was so wonderful!
-Offer to update a website. For Sophia's second hospitalization, we set up a Caringbridge site for our family (because there was some panic the first time - when she was sent to the ICU, I could not call anyone, and when people called the hospital to ask for her, they wouldn't release any information) My Blackberry wasn't working well with the Caringbridge website, so one of the best things a friend did for me was keep it updated for me - I would just text or email her updates and she would post them.
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