Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | ideas? (especially moms!)

Hi everyone,
So I've been SUPER busy again at work and havn't been posting, but I'm wondering about something and thought I'd put it up for opinions - I really hope that some of you that are moms can answer, cause I think you might have good insight here.
About 2 weeks ago now, we found out that my husband's (Will) cousin's family had taken thier son to the hospital. Their son Ian is 3 years old. We've never met him because the last time we saw thier whole family was at our wedding when Will's cousin's wife was pregnant with Ian. We've seen Will's cousin once since then.
This has been a really difficult time for them though, because it turned out that Ian was diagnosed with cancer. He had a tumor in his abdomen. It was surgically removed about a week ago now, allong with one kidney and part of his sigmoid colon. In the last two weeks Ian has had three surgeries (one exploratory, one to remove the tumor and one after complications after surgery #2). The third surgery was very traumatic. They went in to fix a blood clot in his leg and his blood pressure dropped out. They had to crack his chest and massage his heart to start it beating again. He's been on and off a breathing tube because fluid is gathering around his lungs. When they drained the fluid earlier this week they said it was the equivilent of 1.5 liters if it had come from a full grown person. He's been suffering from infection from his incisions and he now has pneumonia. So of course this is exremely hard for his mom and dad. They also have an older son - he's 6.
I have sent them a few cards already and of course I've been praying LOTS! But I feel so bad that we havn't seen them in years now and that we've never even met little Ian. They only live four hours away for goodness sakes! But both families are really busy. They are surrounded by family down there for support and that is good. Both his parents (Will's aunt and uncle) and her parents live within half hour's drive and they have loads of close friends that are helping out and offering much needed support. I feel like we might not do much good to go visit them now since they are speding so much time in the hospital and it is really intense now. I don't want to get in the way. But I wanted to do more than send a card or two. I was thinking about putting together some kind of package for thier family. Maybe some baked goods they could give to the hospital staff (cookies or brownies), some books they can read to Ian (they've been doing that alot) a toy or something for his brother and something nice for mom and dad that they could use and would not buy right now (the bills will be stacking up and this will be financially taxing on thier family). Moms - think what you would want for your family if this were one of your precious little ones...
So I wanted your ideas on things I could include in a package for them or on other things I could do to let them know how much we love them and are thinking and praying for them.
Also - After Ian recovers, they plan to start chemo in about a month and that will go on for several months. All of this will be a nasty process and they will need family support throughout - when do you think we should try to take the time to go visit them?

Thanks for your advice ladies!

Min

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator