So, one thing about this site is – it’s not all about me š I aim to use my hard earned wisdom to help others encountering this scary Cancer world for the first (or maybe fifth) time. I want to help make it not so bad for others in the same boat. Sooooooo…… out of that comes my first project that I need your help on!
While much cancer treatment is done at home and on an outpatient basis, there are types of cancers and cancer treatments that involve long hospital stays. In the case of Acute Leukemia, these stays are almost always a big surprise and there is no time to prepare. When I was in the hospital this summer (for two months!) during COVID, one of the things that helped me so much was having things from home to make it not feel so hospital-y. I would like to put together some “Pajama Packs” or more like a “Pajama Closet” for the Bone Marrow Transplant floor at my hospital. Of course my head-in-the-clouds dream would be to do this more places, but for right now I am focused on the floor, 5 South, that I now call a second home. I walked many miles on those floor tiles in clothes that my amazing friends quickly bought, washed, and shipped to me. Now, let’s do this for others! Here is a list of things that the nurses and I have thought of so far that they need and would be a huge blessing to these quickly admitted patients: (you can click on links for suggestions)
- Two piece pajama sets – MUST BE BUTTON FRONT TOPS (short sleeve is better) – in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large (like these, or these, or these, or these for women)(or these, or these, or these, or these for men)
- House shoes/slippers with good grip soles – the FUNNIER and FUNKIER the BETTER!!!
- Gripper socks – again, the FUNNIER and FUNKIER the BETTER!!!
- Robe – (for the ladies maybe this)(or for the fellas maybe this)
- a cozy blanket – the more COLORFUL, SOFT, and FUN the better
- pillow cases – again, you are seeing my theme here – brighten up that room!
- Knit/Crochet toboggans/beanies (for patients who lose their hair)
- COSTCO Gift Cards – these will be used to purchase K-cups for patients (because we all know hospital coffee is gross) and other goodies that the hospital doesn’t supply
- Amazon Gift Cards – if you would rather me just do the shopping
- small Craft Kits – cancer patients get lots of coloring books and word searches. Those are nice, but get old. Easy craft kits that they could use to decorate their rooms or make as gifts for favorite staff are fun and break the monotony of the days. Think, Hobby Lobby seasonal sale aisles.
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Many folks have asked me to create an Amazon WISHLIST, so I did. Of course there are plenty of places to shop besides Amazon, but they do make it quick and easy.
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We are going to start here. If we come up with new needs, I will let you know, but this is a great start. Please share this post with your friends, churches, groups who may like to participate. If you would like to contribute, please ship items to me – I will need to wash and sanitize all the clothing and pack it up separately first. I will be taking things to the hospital when I go to Augusta for my appointments. I look forward to putting together my “Pajama Packs” and stocking my “Cancermamma Closet” on 5-South, a place full of people near and dear to my heart (and my new immune system!)
Mailing Address:
Lesley Letson (a.k.a. the CancerMamma)
1839 Covey Rise Farm Road
Sparta, GA 31087
U.S.A.
Cancermamma 