Guest guest Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Thanks for the list. I am packing my bags now and heading to the hospital. Hopefully this will only be a weekender. I am adding the sleeping mask and head phones. I always make sure and I have nice snuggly blankets. Please keep him in your prayers this weekend. Thanks everyone. Connie From: son <jpaulson@...> Sent: Friday, January 2, 2009 2:20:54 PMSubject: [ ] hospital advice Hi everyone, I thought I might start a list of "things that help make long hospital stays a little easier" and invite all of you to add to it with the idea that we can all benefit from each others' experiences. Here is my start, and, if you like the idea, please add to it! Wishing all of you happiness and health in the new year-- (mother of Zachary, 18 mos) www.caringbridge. org/visit/ zacharyleonwalla ce Things to bring to the hospital: 1. Earplugs and a sleeping mask (a wide headband works really well too) 2. An ipod or another way to listen to music 3. A portable DVD player 4. Things from home to sleep with and/or put on the wall that make the room feel more like home (we always put up a tapestry that usually hangs in our bedroom on the wall of Zach's hospital room) Ways to save money while staying in the hospital: 1. Use a "Lots of Helping Hands" or other calendar site to help coordinate friends/family who wish to bring you meals to the hospital or help you in other ways 2. Get information on financial help available from the Lymphoma and Leukemia society and other organizations (ask this group if your social worker doesn't provide you with it!) 3. If you are a finicky coffee drinker (like me), bring a French Press or other coffee maker that only requires you to boil water in a hospital microwave Other things that make life easier at the hospital: 1. Work with your doctors to get all meds/vitals coordinated with your child's bed and nap times (as possible) 2. Find out what services such as PT, OT, and speech and music therapy might be available for your child 3. Start a Caring Bridge to keep friends and family up to date on your child's progress son Associate Professor of English and Graduate Literature Coordinator San Francisco State University, Humanities 537 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 338-3107 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 We didn't have the same long regular hospital stays as AML kids, but we did get experienced at hospital trips on short notice. I always kept a backpack in my closet with a fully stocked toiletry bag so I could throw in a change of clothes, some pj's and be ready to go. A couple other things I always tried to remember (and was sad when I forgot): -slippers -twin size foam mattress pad for the parent bed (got one for $10 at Target) -warm blanket -cell phone charger (We now keep an extra one in my backpack.) -cash!!! (I can't even count the number of times I ended up at the hospital without any cash!) Other: I maintained a list of current meds with dosages and frequency and would print off a couple copies before we left for the hospital. It seemed the list they had on file at the hospital was always outdated. I often had to head off overzealous nurses who tried to give my son meds he was no longer taking (and at least two that he was no longer taking due to serious side effects.) I also told each new nurse not to give my son anything without first asking me. Hope these are helpful additions to your list! Ann From: jpaulson@...Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 13:20:54 -0800Subject: [ ] hospital adviceHi everyone, I thought I might start a list of "things that help make long hospital stays a little easier" and invite all of you to add to it with the idea that we can all benefit from each others' experiences. Here is my start, and, if you like the idea, please add to it! Wishing all of you happiness and health in the new year-- (mother of Zachary, 18 mos) www.caringbridge.org/visit/zacharyleonwallace Things to bring to the hospital: 1. Earplugs and a sleeping mask (a wide headband works really well too) 2. An ipod or another way to listen to music 3. A portable DVD player 4. Things from home to sleep with and/or put on the wall that make the room feel more like home (we always put up a tapestry that usually hangs in our bedroom on the wall of Zach's hospital room) Ways to save money while staying in the hospital: 1. Use a "Lots of Helping Hands" or other calendar site to help coordinate friends/family who wish to bring you meals to the hospital or help you in other ways 2. Get information on financial help available from the Lymphoma and Leukemia society and other organizations (ask this group if your social worker doesn't provide you with it!) 3. If you are a finicky coffee drinker (like me), bring a French Press or other coffee maker that only requires you to boil water in a hospital microwave Other things that make life easier at the hospital: 1. Work with your doctors to get all meds/vitals coordinated with your child's bed and nap times (as possible) 2. Find out what services such as PT, OT, and speech and music therapy might be available for your child 3. Start a Caring Bridge to keep friends and family up to date on your child's progress son Associate Professor of English and Graduate Literature Coordinator San Francisco State University, Humanities 537 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 338-3107 It’s the same Hotmail®. If by “same” you mean up to 70% faster. Get your account now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 My daughter had AML and we had the long hospital stays. After the first unplanned trip to the hospital, I learned quickly to always have bags packed. Just as mentioned earlier, I had travel size toiletries, make-up, and comfy clothes ready to go for me. For , I bought two piece PJ's to wear, and packed some of her favorite things (favorite cup, food item, movie or music). The 2 piece P.J's I found essential. tossed and turned and would never keep a blanket on. The darn hospital gowns are worthless.....they get all twisted didn't keep her warm The 2 piece PJ's were helpful to the nursing staff so they could get to her port. When it was all over, I had a PJ burning party. Didn't want to look at them again because it reminded me of all the hosital stays.Great advise on keeping current list of medicines, cash, a list of important phone numbers is helpful too. was getting birth to 3 services at the time, and sometimes we would have to go to the hopsital in the middle of the nigh. I wanted to call the therapists so they wouldn't show up. One of our therapists was great. I would call her and she took care of calling the rest for me. From: Ann Bremer <bremerann@...>Subject: RE: [ ] hospital advice Date: Friday, January 2, 2009, 11:24 PM We didn't have the same long regular hospital stays as AML kids, but we did get experienced at hospital trips on short notice. I always kept a backpack in my closet with a fully stocked toiletry bag so I could throw in a change of clothes, some pj's and be ready to go. A couple other things I always tried to remember (and was sad when I forgot): -slippers -twin size foam mattress pad for the parent bed (got one for $10 at Target) -warm blanket -cell phone charger (We now keep an extra one in my backpack.) -cash!!! (I can't even count the number of times I ended up at the hospital without any cash!) Other: I maintained a list of current meds with dosages and frequency and would print off a couple copies before we left for the hospital. It seemed the list they had on file at the hospital was always outdated. I often had to head off overzealous nurses who tried to give my son meds he was no longer taking (and at least two that he was no longer taking due to serious side effects.) I also told each new nurse not to give my son anything without first asking me. Hope these are helpful additions to your list! Ann From: jpaulsonsfsu (DOT) eduDate: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 13:20:54 -0800Subject: [ ] hospital adviceHi everyone, I thought I might start a list of "things that help make long hospital stays a little easier" and invite all of you to add to it with the idea that we can all benefit from each others' experiences. Here is my start, and, if you like the idea, please add to it! Wishing all of you happiness and health in the new year-- (mother of Zachary, 18 mos) www.caringbridge. org/visit/ zacharyleonwalla ce Things to bring to the hospital: 1. Earplugs and a sleeping mask (a wide headband works really well too) 2. An ipod or another way to listen to music 3. A portable DVD player 4. Things from home to sleep with and/or put on the wall that make the room feel more like home (we always put up a tapestry that usually hangs in our bedroom on the wall of Zach's hospital room) Ways to save money while staying in the hospital: 1. Use a "Lots of Helping Hands" or other calendar site to help coordinate friends/family who wish to bring you meals to the hospital or help you in other ways 2. Get information on financial help available from the Lymphoma and Leukemia society and other organizations (ask this group if your social worker doesn't provide you with it!) 3. If you are a finicky coffee drinker (like me), bring a French Press or other coffee maker that only requires you to boil water in a hospital microwave Other things that make life easier at the hospital: 1. Work with your doctors to get all meds/vitals coordinated with your child's bed and nap times (as possible) 2. Find out what services such as PT, OT, and speech and music therapy might be available for your child 3. Start a Caring Bridge to keep friends and family up to date on your child's progress son Associate Professor of English and Graduate Literature Coordinator San Francisco State University, Humanities 537 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 338-3107 It’s the same Hotmail®. If by “same” you mean up to 70% faster. Get your account now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 Over the last 7 months were were in and out of the hospital. I got the best gift for Christmas from my Godmother. It is a DVD Portfolio that is faux leather, zips shut and has a handle. I'm sure it was very inexpensive. We loaded Nate's entire DVD collection in there with much room to spare. We throw in his portable DVD player and wah lah.... instant entertainment. It goes with us to every doctor appt and hospitalization. Sure beats hauling all those cases around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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