Thoughtful gift baskets for a sick friend
One of the greatest joys of friendship is being able to support each other through times of need, but sometimes, what is useful in a gift basket depends on which particular symptoms or challenges a person may be facing. For example, someone who is nauseated due to a virus or chemotherapy may need a different sort of gift basket than one struggling with depression, certain auto-immune diseases, or so on. You will want to ask yourself the question of, "Will my friend be able to use this in the immediate future?" Therefore, it's important to have a good understanding of which challenges your friend is, or will be, facing.
Some possible ideas for gift baskets include:
These usually all make wonderful presents, but special care should be taken to make sure that these will be comforting rather than harmful. Check the ingredients list to see if there are any ingredients which your friend may wish to avoid, such as animal-products for vegans or anything to which you think your friend might possibly have an allergy.
A fruit basket is usually going to be a better idea, as it is generally a healthier option. Chewing gum often seems to helpreducethe discomfort of an earache, and items containing mint, apples, or ginger can help toreducethe effects of nausea. Many people enjoy receiving things like chocolate or peanut brittle when they are ill, though again, you will most definitely not want to give a gift which contains a serious allergen. Food with high levels of sugar are also generally unhealthy and should usually be avoided, though if the person is in terminal condition, then people tend to wave such concerns. After all, with friends, quality of life generally comes above quantity.
If a person enjoys reading, writing, or drawing, then these may be the perfect gifts. Creative outlets and other distractions from an illness are often great benefits to a sick or injured person.
People often like to give sick friends music CDs which they will find relaxing, but if your ailing friend is an Aerosmith or Metallica fan, then there is really nothing wrong with getting a hard rock or heavy metal album. People tend to crave normalcy when they are feeling ill, so just because it is not a choice which might be comforting to you personally, this does not mean that it will not comfort your friend.
Photos can also make very calming gifts - these pictures can either be framed, placed into an album, or digitally added to something such as a shirt, jacket, or quilt. Gift certificates may also be nice to present along with other gifts, though whether a not a person can use them often depends on whether or not they will be able to leave home or hospital in the near future.
If you are presenting a gift basket to a young child or a stuffed animal collector, then sometimes stuffed animal or puppets can be amusing presents. If you plan to present a large gift basket, then you may also wish to include a comfortable item such as a pillow or blanket.
