I love to get gifts and I love to give gifts that make people happy. Simple? It should be, but in practice, gift-giving can be quite a complicated matter.
- Why should you give a gift?
- When should you give a gift?
- What type of gift is appropriate and/or fun to give?
- How should you give the gift?
And all of these considerations are even more complicated if the person who will be receiving the gift has cancer.
This July, my daughter Jessica and I started a small business called Chemossentials. Our tag line is, "Gifts and specialized kits to counteract the effects of cancer treatments."
While supporting friends and family members with cancer, we saw first-hand how traumatic and devastating this battle can be. We also experienced the frustration and challenge of effectively supporting loved ones throughout this journey. From our experiences we've come up with some suggestions and ideas to help you.
Here are some things to consider:
Why should you give a gift?
- to remind someone how important they are to you
- to acknowledge the difficulty of their situation and offer your support
- to encourage them to remain hopeful and optimistic
- to empower them with gifts that will be practical and useful throughout their treatments
- to know that you're making a positive difference in someones life.
When should you give a gift?
- Right away! Waiting risks not doing.
- Consider this, cancer treatment is a cumulative process--the need for specific products may not be predictable, so having them readily available early on is crucial.
What type of gift is appropriate and/or fun to give?
- Useful and practical items that make life more managable. We suggest our Favorite Things Bag
- Items that specifically target the side-effects of cancer treatments. Check out our Face-Time Add On and Kick Back Kit
- Products that are fun and provide an outlet for distraction. Take a peek at our Stress Relief Add-On and Summer Zen Package.
- Personal touches, such as favorite magazines, self-care products, books etc.
How should you give the gift?
- Don't be shy, even if it is difficult for you to express your feelings with words, your gift can say it for you, "I care. I'm here to support you. I'm thinking of you."
- Get together with a group of friends and/or family members and have each person contribute a special item - a book, a hat, a homemade goodie, a picture, an inspiring quotation, a funny story etc - to a gift bag. Adding this personal touch to any gift shows how much you care
- For more gift-giving ideas please see our gift giving guide
Having cancer can be isolating for so many reasons. Don't let the ones you love feel alone. Even when you aren't physically with them, these gifts can be a constant reminder that they are in your thoughts.
We invite you to check out our website--we hope that you will find just the right gift--one that will satisfy both sides of this equation.
Thank you and to you and your loved one--we wish you well on your journey.
Maureen and Jessica
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