Re: NIH Study?/Lana

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

Back from London and Stockholm. Should be at work today, but my eyes

were bothering me so much last night, I could barely see. And I woke

up feeling dreadful this morning, stuffed sinuses, red and swollen

eyes etc. Hopefully just a cold or something. So I called in sick,

and I am sitting here vegging out in front of the TV...

I just saw this about giving gifts to the docs and such. This is

something I have to relate to at work too. We are not allowed to

receive gifts. But there are some ways around it anyway, which I

thought I could share. You can of course not give personal gifts to

the doctors. There may be other options too, where no single person

or employee benefits.

It is all about balance, I think. We have had to deal with this a lot

at work, and have found a way of handling it, where the client's

feelings is also taken into consideration. Because we all know how

much it means to people to be able to show their appreciation. That

should also be respected. At the same time we have to respect that

government/state/municipality employees for many reasons can't

receive personal gifts, that would put them in a difficult position.

At work that has been quite a challenge sometimes, as we work with

people from a lot of different cultures, some come from places where

even using money bribes is a common custom and bringing gifts can be

about more than just showing your appreciation. It becomes a fine

balance between allowing people to show their gratitude, something

that makes them feel well and making sure that everybody knows that

we can't receive any kind of gift (or treat people different because

of it).

The way we have been able to work around it, is to tell people that

if it really means a lot to them, they are allowed to give a _small_

token of their appreciation to the whole office and the users of the

office. That way it becomes different. So if somebody comes with

candy or flowers, we will enjoy them together with the users of the

office, by placing them at the reception where both users and

employees come through when they're at the office.

Our users at work most often bring things like flowers, home made

cookies, candy and such - all inexpensive, but very considerate and

appreciated by everybody!!! It does brighten the day for whoever is

there!!! But for a place like the hospital, there might be other

things to consider too? Something that would benefit everybody there,

if you want to give something that lasts. It shouldn't be something

expensive though, I think... I'm sure that you guys have a lot more

ideas than I do, but things that comes to mind right now is e.g. a

pretty picture or framed poem for the waiting area (home made?), a

book of comforting or encouraging sayings or poetry, a pretty green

(and long lasting) plant, toys for waiting kids to play with etc.

etc. By donating something like that which would benefit everybody

there through making the environment there even more positive, you

sure show your appreciation as much as you would with a personal gift

to your doctor there - maybe even more. There would be no problems

like the ones involved if you gave a personal gift, but it would make

you feel as good and lots of people would be able to enjoy it...

Maybe the people at NIH could accept a gift of appreciation that way?

Of course it would be a good idea to check for sure before doing

something like that, but...

Of course I don't know the exact rules and policies the employees

there have to deal with, but even if the thought is really nice, I

don't think sending a gift to the home of any of them, is a good

idea. I have thought of doing the same in the past, but ended out

not doing it, after considering it. Even if they would for sure

understand what you are trying to do, it could at the same time put

them in an awkward and uneasy position... Even if you develop some

kind of friendship with one of the doctors at such a place, as long

as you also are a patient, you just have to be really careful with

such things, so that you don't put them into a difficult position

where roles can be mixed. By not doing it, you are actually being

considerate and nice, I think. But there's nothing that says that you

can't make a beautiful card and tell them how much they mean to

you... It is not a gift, and should be completely acceptable and not

problematic for them - at the same time that it can mean as much as a

gift... And there's also always the possibility of saying in the card

that you know you can't give a gift, but since you so much would like

to show your appreciation towards what she and others there are doing

for you, you would like to donate a little something to the patient

waiting area or reception are, to brighten everybody's stay there.

BTW, that reminds me... At the rare disease center, they of course

have the same rules. But there the walls of the living room area

amongst others have water paintings, drawings, framed poems etc. that

patients made and brought...

Hmmmm.... One thing that would have been beautiful for the walls at

NIH could be Darlene's poem " New Wheels " written or printed out

pretty and framed... And I know how much that poem has meant to me,

on the walls there it could touch a lot of people...

Just my NOK .50 worth...

Aase Marit

[Guest guest]

NIH Study

what would you all think about sending them a gift, like a

lovely plant or something,

Thanks!

Love Lana

*******************************************************

Nope, they can't take gifts of any kind. Nazli made that clear. Anything

recieved would have to be returned. wanted to do that too, that's why the

subject had come up when I was there. Nice idea though.

Cindylouwho

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

[Guest guest]

> Nope, they can't take gifts of any kind. Nazli made that clear.

No, but you could make a donation to your favorite EDS organization in their

names.

The next issue of EDS Today will feature information about the study in the

announcements section. If you have already participated in the study, we

would like to hear from you about your experience. EDS Today has a

reader-to-reader section in which people with EDS can write on a variety of

topics not covered by other EDS Today columns. Sharing your comments and

experience may encourage others to participate. If you would like to share

your comments with EDS Today readers, please email them to

info@.... (info @ edstoday.org)

-Barb

Editor, EDS Today

http://www.edstoday.org/

[Guest guest]

Oh shoot, that's right! I forgot that, and Sis had told me that as

well. Well, I'm sneaky enough, I'm going to try to get one of their

home addresses or something. They can't return it if I send it

to a friend, and not a professional can they???

Love Lana

> NIH Study

>

>

> what would you all think about sending them a gift, like a

> lovely plant or something,

> Thanks!

> Love Lana

> *******************************************************

>

> Nope, they can't take gifts of any kind. Nazli made that clear.

Anything recieved would have to be returned. wanted to do that

too, that's why the subject had come up when I was there. Nice idea

though.

> Cindylouwho

>

>

>

> To learn more about EDS, visit our website:

http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That's a GREAT idea Barb! You are so GOOD!

Love Lana

> > Nope, they can't take gifts of any kind. Nazli made that clear.

>

> No, but you could make a donation to your favorite EDS

organization in their

> names.

>

> The next issue of EDS Today will feature information about the

study in the

> announcements section. If you have already participated in the

study, we

> would like to hear from you about your experience. EDS Today has a

> reader-to-reader section in which people with EDS can write on a

variety of

> topics not covered by other EDS Today columns. Sharing your

comments and

> experience may encourage others to participate. If you would like

to share

> your comments with EDS Today readers, please email them to

> info@e... (info @ edstoday.org)

>

> -Barb

> Editor, EDS Today

> http://www.edstoday.org/

[Guest guest]

Hi Aase!

I am so SORRY that you are feeling under the weather! You poor baby!

I wish I were there to comfort you and spoil you a little. I

send warm thoughts and love to you, my friend!

GREAT ideas for gifts! I especially like the one about framed poety,

or more specifically, Darlene's poem! That would be personal, yet

shared by everyone, like you said. Perhaps I'll work on that and

take it with me and just sit it on the desk with a note before I

leave. I wonder if that would work? I thought of a plant, which I

would like also, but I'm not sure if they could accept that. It's

sad, but I do understand the reasons behind it.

You take good care of YOU, Aase, and please let us know when you are

better, OK?

LOVE YOU!

Lana

> Hi guys,

>

> Back from London and Stockholm. Should be at work today, but my

eyes

> were bothering me so much last night, I could barely see. And I

woke

> up feeling dreadful this morning, stuffed sinuses, red and swollen

> eyes etc. Hopefully just a cold or something. So I called in sick,

> and I am sitting here vegging out in front of the TV...

>

> I just saw this about giving gifts to the docs and such. This is

> something I have to relate to at work too. We are not allowed to

> receive gifts. But there are some ways around it anyway, which I

> thought I could share. You can of course not give personal gifts to

> the doctors. There may be other options too, where no single person

> or employee benefits.

>

> It is all about balance, I think.