Cancer has quickly become a common household word lately and it seems we’re always hearing about new types of cancer. Just last year, my mother in law was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and pancreatic cancer and it took her life in a matter of months. Last night, our nephew lost his mother to cancer. It’s a brutal beast that affects so many people and today I’ve partnered with?Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. to share tips to create a cancer care package.
This story is really hard for me to write since I do have recent first hand experience of the chaos that cancer brings to the lives of those affected, as well as their loved ones. I can’t count the times that I sat with my mother in law in her hospital room and watched her cry or listened as she talked about the end. We always told her to keep fighting and not to give up but the thing is, that many people affected by cancer know that their end is near.
It’s so sad to watch and even more sad for the people who don’t have a support system like my mother in law had. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, many people see it as an immediate death sentence and it’s important for them to have a caring person by their side. That’s why I wanted to work on this Kindness campaign, to create a cancer care package so that I could provide even just a small amount of support to someone suffering and let them know that they are strong and they can fight this fight. It’s just a simple act, but can mean the world to someone and I’ve shared some ideas below so that your family can put together a cancer care package too.
Items to include in a cancer care package
- Vegetables – Whether raw or cooked, veggies make a great addition to a cancer care package. You can learn the benefits of each, as well as other items listed here.
- Fresh fruits – Many types of fruit provide essential vitamins and protection against infection.
- Protein – We quickly learned how important protein is to cancer patients’ diet so meats, nut and fish are all great options to include in a cancer care package.
- Dark chocolate and sugar free candy – These aren’t just good for when they get a sweet craving, dark chocolate?can actually slow the growth of tumors thanks to flavonoids contained in it. Sugarless candies are great for dry mouth that is common with some treatments.
- Vitamins – Vitamins B9, C, D, B17 and E can often be low in those who have cancer.
- Comfort items – Items such as socks, robes, blankets and pillows are great choices because they help to provide the comfort of home.
- Special beauty items – People often have different needs for these types of items and everyone loves to feel pampered. Refer to this list again for specific ideas.
- Entertainment – Books, magazines, movies and puzzle books can help to entertain and offer brief mental and emotional relief.
- Gift cards – Gift cards for restaurants are a great idea so they can buy healthy food at their leisure.
i hope that these ideas have inspired you to create a cancer care package. Even if you don’t personally know someone with cancer, you can make a package for a stranger, just to do a random act of kindness. That’s what Big Bro and I did. We took our cancer care package to the hospital and gave it to a patient that rarely gets visitors and it really brightened her day! Next time, we’re going to take a collection of books and pass them out to everyone in that wing!
I’d like to thank Environmental Litigation Group, P.C.?for inspiring me with this project.?Primarily focused on cases dealing with asbestos-related injuries, Environmental Litigation Group handles cases with diligence, personal approach, proactive counseling and advocacy through extensive experience. Founded in 1990 and located in Birmingham, Alabama, the law firm provides legal representation nationwide and builds a trust-based relationship with each client. Offers free consultations.”
