Favorite Hospital Gift Ideas for Girls

Being in the hospital is no fun, but the day is a little brighter when someone shows they care with a thoughtful gift. Any thing that makes the stay more comfortable or help pass the time is welcome.  After spending many months in the hospital I'm somewhat of an expert patient, so I'm sharing here some of the great gifts people sent.

1. Comfy fleece throw: a colorful fleece throw help to brighten up the room, keep me warm when the A/C was blasting, and was easy to wash.
2. Dry shampoo, scrunchies and hair ties were very helpful to keep my hair in check.
3. Mani-pedi supplies corralled in a colorful bin were a great distraction and kept me busy changing colors often.
4. Clear water bottle, marked with fluid measurements, and topped with a lid helped to keep drinks from spilling while still allowing nurses to see through and keep track of how much I was drinking. 
5. Non-slip socks & Crocs: fuzzy socks with non-slip treads were much more comfortable for lounging than the boxy hospital socks.  For doing laps around hospital floor, Crocs with a heel strap were the easiest to slip on while still being secure (slippery socks and flip-flops are not allowed because of the slipping, falling, and tripping risks).
6. Family and friends that were handy with a sewing machine helped make wrap skirts and shirts that were easy to snap on and off over my IV lines.
7. Squishy pillow pets helped prop me up as needed.
8. Instead of cut flowers,  air plants and succulents were an easy-care option that survived the visit and came home with me.
9. Subscription to Audible , Spotify, or other streaming service to help pass the time.
10. Tech support: iphone/ipad stands, airpods, and an extra long charging cord helped keep connected.
11. Thickly padded exercise mat helped me with physical therapy exercises.
12. Photo posters of family and friends, pom-pom garlands for my wheelchair, and fairy lights for my room helped bring a little fun into the room and remind me of the people who were supporting me. 
13. Friendship bracelet supplies and mandala coloring sheets helped keep my hands busy without making a mess.
14. A deck of cards was the most compact and simplest pick-up game to have on hand.