Hello ladies…I’d love to hear from those of you who have bought gifts for your surgeons/nurses/anaesthetists as a “thank you for taking such good care of me” and if so, what did you give them? I adore my surgeon and would love to show her my appreciation by way of a gift. I’ve thought of a nice “hamper” of goodies but these days one cannot possibly know if someone drinks/eats chocolate/dairy, etc. I would hate for it to go to waste if it’s not to her taste. I’ve thought of asking the BC nurse if she knows her taste…any suggestions welcome-thank you:).
My advice is to slow down unless you’re all done and dusted, lovely though the idea is. As you say yourself, they get so many gifts.
You don’t yet know what lies ahead. I had a very experienced surgeon who, no, doubt, saved my life and went out of his way to make everything I needed possible - such as going home the same day. But as my scars healed, I was left with two sizeable ‘dogears’ at the end of my scar and an upper arm that was completely numb for almost 12 months and even now causes considerable discomfort. Not his fault, considering what he had to do. He has received a fulsome letter of thanks for his contribution to my treatment.
If you are moving on to further treatments, there will be many people to whom you’d love to give a personal gift (and some you’d like to thump) and the whole thing gets out of hand. Why not wait until you’re treatment has ended for the decision about gifts? I suspect if you asked them, they’d suggest a donation to their hospital (unexciting but somethings others will benefit from).
Hi Marla, you are such a lovely person to think of other people when you have cancer. But I totally get where you are coming from! I sent ‘thank you letter’ to my surgeon, including thanks to his team and I can only assume he appreciated that, as he remembered and commented on the day I next met him and learned my fate. He seemed very ‘chuffed’ that I made the effort, more for his staff, than for him. So ( and I totally get you) I think you should think more about a donation to charity and maybe some nice m&s tins of biscuits for the wider team. Immense respect to you Marla, because I also think it is important to be thankful. Wonky X
What a lovely idea. And lucky you having a good relationship with your surgeon! I have heard from a couple of friends that they brought tray bakes to the radiotherapy team. When I was making regular visits to the Day Assessment Unit when I was pregnant, I picked up that nurses really appreciate quality tea and coffee. Maybe something to share out as it’s such a team effort: so if it’s not her thing, she can appreciate the thought and a nice card, and hand them out. Have a great Christmas - the sunny side up is hopefully someone else will be in the kitchen this year! xx
It’s such a wonderful idea to express your gratitude to the medical professionals who have taken care of you. I totally get your dilemma with the ““hamper”” idea – dietary restrictions and preferences can be tricky to navigate. Asking the BC nurse for insights into your surgeon’s tastes is a thoughtful approach. Another universal option could be a heartfelt thank-you card along with a meaningful, non-food-related gift like a 500 piece puzzle. Puzzles are great for relaxation and can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.
