{"id":1799,"date":"2015-09-03T01:19:09","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T01:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1799"},"modified":"2015-08-30T21:33:12","modified_gmt":"2015-08-30T21:33:12","slug":"thoughtful-gifts-for-someone-you-know-with-chronic-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/09\/thoughtful-gifts-for-someone-you-know-with-chronic-illness.html","title":{"rendered":"Thoughtful Gifts for Someone You Know with Chronic Illness"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of voraorn\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

resisted the recent spate of “Christmas in July” store and on-line promotions, but there is no doubt that time is flying by and it will soon be holiday season. We each probably have more than one person on our holiday list who is difficult to shop for. The person who has everything. The person who says, “I don’t need anything.”<\/p>\n

The person with a chronic illness.<\/p>\n

Ah, he or she can be extremely difficult, not because of pickiness or requests that go far beyond our budget or other resources. No, the difficulty tends to be more sensitive than that and goes beyond the typical, “You should get someone a gift that you yourself would want to have.”<\/p>\n

A person with a chronic illness might have limitations on his or her diet, lifestyle, mobility, or other aspect and we might hesitate to give “regular” gifts because we simply don’t know what he or she can truly enjoy and\/or use.<\/p>\n

Some gifts might strike emotional chords that cause dissonance rather than celestial music. A nicely framed picture of a pleasant shared outing in the past might stir up memories that are difficult to reconcile with the way a chronic illness patient’s life has “turned out” because of health challenges.<\/p>\n

Little doodads and knick-knacks are well-meaning, but might only clutter limited space and serve no real purpose and\/or convey no real sense of understanding current needs and feelings.<\/p>\n

So, how do you know what to give?<\/p>\n

Here are some ideas:<\/p>\n

Offer your time. Especially if someone is mobility impaired or has difficulty hearing or seeing, an offer of time and assistance can be very welcome! Think of couching your gift of time in a pretty card or fashion your own “gift certificate” to be “redeemed” when the person especially \u00a0needs your help.<\/p>\n

Make a donation. Give a charitable contribution to the particular organization that is championing your ill loved one’s health cause. Ask the patient what group or organization will make the most of your contribution.<\/p>\n

Appeal to the funny bone. When we truly know someone, we get to know the sense of humor that he or she thrives on – and derives much support and light when times are tough. Appeal to your loved one’s funny bone – and give the gift of blessed laughter.<\/p>\n

Ask. People with special health needs know what they need and your loved one probably has a “wish list” of things that would make his or her life easier, or at least a bit more comfortable. Don’t hesitate to ask what would be an appropriate gift, and stick to that list as you go shopping.<\/p>\n

Above all, give your love. Listen to your friend or family member who struggles with health. Be willing to be the shoulder for crying on – and the partner in praise!<\/p>\n

Happy holidays!<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

resisted the recent spate of “Christmas in July” store and on-line promotions, but there is no doubt that time is flying by and it will soon be holiday season. We each probably have more than one person on our holiday list who is difficult to shop for. The person who has everything. The person who…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[241,3,1422,43,1242,1047,578,1420,1245],"tags":[29,215,1900,1898,1899],"class_list":["post-1799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-chronic-pain-and-the-holidays","category-encouragement-in-life","category-food-for-thought","category-good","category-goodness","category-pain-2","category-positive","tag-chronic-illness","tag-gift-giving","tag-giving-a-gift-to-someone-with-a-chronic-illness","tag-holiday-season-2015","tag-holidays-2015"],"yoast_head":"\nThoughtful Gifts for Someone You Know with Chronic Illness - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/09\/thoughtful-gifts-for-someone-you-know-with-chronic-illness.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thoughtful Gifts for Someone You Know with Chronic Illness - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"resisted the recent spate of “Christmas in July” store and on-line promotions, but there is no doubt that time is flying by and it will soon be holiday season. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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