Help me help my mom get through surgery and rehab!

[Kimmyt]

So my mom is a great person. She is very active and has never looked or felt her age. Unfortunately, about a year or more ago, her knees started going bad. It got to the point where a replacement was really her only option if she didn't want to be confined to a wheelchair.

She's going in for a single knee replacement this weekend and I really want to do something to cheer her up after the ordeal, I know she's gonna hate to be bedridden for a while and will hate even more to have to use a walker/wheelchair/cane and go through pt.

Any tips on things that she might appreciate? I will probably be down to spend the night at her place before my next tri which I think she'll appreciate, but I was thinking of sending her a care package/get well gift and didn't want it to be flowers (she's not that into flowers). I will probably get her a fruit bouquet cause she likes those, but also wanted to put together something more thoughtful and I thought maybe some people here have had experience in long recoveries and could help me by suggesting things they had really appreciated or would have liked while undergoing a similar ordeal.

Thanks in advance ladies!

K.

[Blueberry]

Is there something she enjoys that she could do while she's recovering? Any craft supplies? Books?

Perhaps have someone come cook her a nice dinner one night (personal chef?).

Good luck - she'll be moving around before she knows it!

CA

[margo49]

Music was really important to me in those situations.
Whatever technology she uses get her music for it.

btw, I am not esp musical in general. But I used it both for inspiration and relaxation/calming and it was something that dint require arms or legs. Not too expensive either

[rocknrollgirl]

Kimmy,
I had major surgery a few years ago, and was recovering for over 2 months. My girlfriend made me a gift bag with all kinds of stuff, from crosswords to books , movies, Godiva chocolates....I loved it.

Also, every time my Mom had surgery, I got her new pj's. The ones that are nice for lounging around the house in. Nice crisp cotton capris with a t-shirt type things.

[Pax]

Don't know if the service is available where your mom lives but how about a home appointment with a manicurist or massage therapist? I know I get really kinked up after surgery.

[Kimmyt]

Wow, girls, all of those are AMAZING IDEAS! I think I'll have to spread them out over the next few months just so I don't blow my load all at once! Heh!

Thanks so much for the good ideas! (I got as far as maybe the new Harry potter book... now I've got so much more to work with).

[silver]

Does she knit or crochet? Or maybe she'd like to learn. Maybe you could get all the things together for a small project.

after my accident, I was too drugged up in the hospital to do anything even to read...I mostly just watched TV. But I would have liked to have a crochet project to work on after I got home.

I wish her the best!

[Aquila]

Books on tape/cd. You can often get them from the local library, I've found. So make sure she has a way to play them? They kept me sane at one point.

A grabber thing, to be able to grab small things that fall without having to get up and bend and such. I got one for a friend at a local pharmacy. It's a stick with a little grabby thing at the bottom, and a small magnet. Pharmacy folks know.

Wish her well!