Suggestions for helping people with cancer:

These are suggestions that survivors have found to be helpful while they were dealing with – diagnosis, surgery or treatment.  If you have any additional suggestions that you would like to pass on to others – through this web site, please e-mail info@memoriesandmiracles.org and ask to have the information incorporated into this web page.

• Meals – Home cooked and ready to serve (or packaged for the freezer and available when needed).

• Snacks - for treatment days

• DVD of Comedies - Laughter has been proven to be the BEST medication. (Movies, sit-coms, stand-up)

• Box of Gifts - A large box filled with small wrapped boxes to be opened on specific days (boxes are filled with small gifts - such as bath salts, candles, paperback book to read)

• Planning calendar with gift certificates - to be used on special days.

• Gift certificates to favorite restaurants, bakeries, etc.

• Sugarless hard candy to suck on during or after treatments.

• Exercise – stay active it strengthens your body and your spirit.  Walking is always good.  If you know someone dealing with a health issue – make regular walking dates.

• A large bag to carry supplies – food, reading materials, etc for treatment days.

• Stationary for thank you notes.

• Books to read.

• Mi Shebersch Hamsa Dove – available at the Adath Israel Judaica Shop – sign the back with your name as physical reminder of your caring

• Arrange transportation for children who cannot drive.

• Volunteer to review spelling words and proof read papers for the children of someone dealing with breast cancer or other health issues.

• Plan a spa day – for someone dealing with a breast cancer or other health issues.

• Buy hats/scarves for a person dealing with cancer – and wear a hat yourself when you are out together.

• Treatments tend to create certain almost predictable “cravings” – provide meals or gift certificates to satisfy those cravings.  The cravings range from comfort food to HOT and SPICY.

• Plants – that continue to grow (instead of flowers that last 3 days and then die and have to be thrown away).

• Message Bean Plant – it is available through www.spoonsisters.com the plant comes with several appropriate messages, Get Well; Thank You; Love.  The site also has a page for “Pink Ribbon”.  These bean plants – if watered and with light can grow for up to one year (sometimes they even produce a very large bean pod .

•  Netflix or Blockbuster through the mail movie subscription.

• Visit and sit in the hospital with friend if family permits