October 07, 2004

• How about a tiny brass bell that she can ring incessantly to summon whoever it is that's waiting hand-and-foot. ;) Seriously though, more information? My first thought (personal preference) is a few really good books, DVDs, or video games.. but it's nigh on impossible to buy for someone else. Amazon vouchers, a Netflix subscription and a (loaned) laptop? Or your local equivalent.
• Gameboy Advanced SP. A lot of books. Cross-stitching supplies and/or tutorials. A shiny new laptop computer. Blacksmith puzzles. A loaded iPod.
• Audio books, taped radio programmes
• Morphine.
• One of my coworkers had disc surgery recently, so I have actually just done this. She slept a lot and was pretty out of it due to the painkillers. Things that were too interactive or required thought were therefore not much use. She liked books on tape better than books, DVDs were great, an iPod would be fantastic (wasn't in our budget, but if she has one maybe an iTunes store gift certificate?). A loan of a laptop would probably be appreciated if they don't have one, even better would be if someone could buy and set up an Airport Express or other WiFi so they can surf the net from bed. The very best thing we got for her was food delivery. We got in touch with a personal chef service that delivers pre-cooked meals, we all pitched in and she loved it.
• How about a copy of the Kama Sutra? That'll cheer her right up.
• My grandfather was laid up twice (once for a broken neck, once for leg surgery). Both times, he needlepointed. The nurses at the hospital helped out with the really hard bits, but he did the rest. (This was very cute. My Paw Paw was a very manly man, and only needlepointed when laid up. He refused to let others embarrass him for it, though, and did quite a good job.)
• I asked my wife, who went through a quadruple laminectomy a few years back. She stresses lightweight entertainment (e.g., paperbacks and magazines, as opposed to Strange & Norrell in hardcover). She also recommends one of those lap-trays for books that can tilt up and hold your book in place for you, and maybe one of those mechanical grabber arms (makes it easier to pull covers up, grab things off the nightstand, etc.).
• Oh... oh... oh... Mr & Mrs Potato Head.
• My best friend just went back to work after a month of recuperating from back surgery. I would heartily recommend a gift of prepared food. You could also assemble a big basket of snack food. Don't forget to include a big box of bendy-straws for drinking liquids. If it's not too weird, pajamas will be her uniform for the next few weeks, and she might appreciate wearing something new.
• The Clapper (Flash)
• Headpiece/earpiece for telephone. Middleclasstool's suggestions were excellent (as were everyone's). I would highly recommend anything that helps keep things in close proximity to her or helps her to remain hands-free. Anything that is tray-like or has cupholders, etc. might be very useful. Get her some ridiculously over the top bed-tray that has million features.
• Along with the GBA SP I can heartily recommend "Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town". Superb game that will keep her entertained for a loooong time.
• Forty bucks, but pretty cool.
• Ah yes, Chrid. I love that game. And you can get it cheap on eBay if you want to stretch the budget.
• Perhaps a shortwave radio with stations already programmed in? How about a prepaid cellphone with a nice balance already on it and promises to call and say "hi"?
• Prepared food is a big hit. A friend who had knee surgery that kept her immobile for a few weeks asked for food, so we organized a schedule for when folks would bring dinner (it was a low-budget affair). Another friend recovering from surgery made use of a chef service and adored it. From my own convalescences, I'd suggest Netflix. Never underestimate the power of painkillers to make even a mediocre movie utterly compelling.
• colorforms!!!
• Here are the things I really appreciated when I was on my back, recuperating from knee surgery in a Vicodin haze. Number one is COMPANY; the days can be long when you can't really move and you're alone. (Huh: Maybe a phone card would be a good gift, so your coworker can make free long distance calls.) Videos/DVDs are good, especially if your coworker is going to be on painkillers, which can make it hard to concentrate well enough to read. Do NOT get your coworker anything (games, puzzles) with a lot of pieces; those pieces can be really hard to gather up should they fall apart. Which reminds me that a "reacher" would make a nice gift, too.
• Vibrating pants.
• You guys are all so nice! Group hug!
• What I really wanted after dual laminectomy some years ago, when they cut the dura so I had to spend several days flat in the bed, unable to raise my head was... A long oar, so I could propel my bed out of the ward, into the elevator and outside the hospital, just to have a cigaret. Pretty pathetic?
• Do you like this co-worker, mecurious? If so, I like the catered meals idea. If not, get him/her something frustrating and annoying, like a complicated children's toy (or a child, they're pretty annoying all on their own). Pick-up sticks or mousetrap would be fine, but the perfect antagonizer would, of course, be operation.
• Hire a housekeeper to clean the house, esp. when coworker is getting mobile and can see how dusty it's gotten. When I'm sick, clean sheets are always a huge treat.
• Do I like this person? lol Well, I try to get along with everybody and be "principle-based". Great suggestions from everybody. I happened to have two of these, virtually unused and sitting in the garage, so I gave her one. Thanks for the idea!
• I'd actually like to know how the fusion surgery went. My brother has to go in for it himself and he's scared shitless. The odds of it going bad are 20% he was told. He's in horrible shape but gets so scared he thinks he's gonna back out. As far as suggestions, pretty good ones up above. Just remember the chocolate!! Maybe you could all pitch in for a masseuse to help get the blood flowing. A gentle, top-side only massage might be awesome after a week in bed! Course, she may expect one every week!
• A desk and a laptop, some pencils, a stapler, a phone, some binders.
• A Playstation and Tomb Raider 1 for a start then Spyro 1, 2, 3, then maybe a PS2 and Gran Turismo 3, heaven.
• zqwerty, this isn't about YOU! Sheesh!
• rodgerd's suggestion was the best. Seriously. Okay, maybe not vibrating pants, but get her a really high quality vibrator, and those six weeks will just fly by...
• Itching powder.