Today we talk about the best way to approach get well soon gifts. Plus: the best wrapping paper and a set of gorgeous Japanese watercolors.
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| Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter |
Need a get well soon gift? Start here. |
In 2023, doctors discovered a brain tumor the size of a small plum on my right frontal lobe. One week after my MRI, I went in for a craniotomy and spent several weeks in a combination of the regular hospital and an inpatient rehab hospital. The days bled together, and I missed seeing my husband and daughter. Therapists and doctors popped in and out every couple of hours. I worked on walking backwards, piling cones quickly in various patterns, and executive functioning skill-building. (To be fair, prioritizing tasks and deadlines thwarted me even before my surgery. I’m a journalist, after all.) And I ate a lot of mediocre hospital food.
I was deeply grateful to be there, after a surgery that couldn’t have gone better, building my life back. But in the first couple of days after my surgery, I had an insatiable craving for Levain cookies. It sounds silly, but one of the hardest afternoons I had over those many weeks was the day I tried to Grubhub them to myself, only to have them stopped at the entrance to the ICU (food and flowers are a no-no). I was looking to recreate the 3PM little treat I often gave myself in the middle of a long work day — trying to feel normal amid uncertainty about my recovery. The cookies were literally out of reach.
Here’s the thing: Before I went into the hospital, I had no idea that’s what I would have wanted. My colleagues created a thoughtful spreadsheet of gift ideas for me (the most Wirecutter-y way to show love) — Levain cookies were, of course, not on it. Because we don’t always know what we’ll want or need when we’re out of commission until it happens. So my advice to anyone searching for a gift for a loved one who is on the road to getting well is to just ask: “What’s something that would make your life better right now?”
For me, that was a chunky cookie. For others, it’s an upgrade-worthy pair of sweatpants or an extra-long charging cord. (Why are all hospital outlets so far from the beds?) But if you ask, and someone truly doesn’t know or isn’t able to answer, here are a few places to start:
- The walk to the ice machine in between therapy sessions helped me build back my balance, and filling up a very giant and colorful tumbler made it worthwhile — and was a great conversation starter with the nurses, who know everything about cool drinking vessels (and comfortable shoes).
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- Showering in the hospital was extremely … unluxurious (and I was often supervised by an occupational therapist). I asked my husband to bring my classic gray Havianas flip-flops from home, so I didn’t have to wear the hospital-issued slides. I’ve since upgraded to the surprisingly supportive Archies, and that’s what I’d give as a gift to someone for upgraded shower time.
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- The Bombas grip socks in the care package from my colleagues were an unexpected little hit: I wore them to PT and for my hallway strolls. They gave me a tie-dye pair I unfortunately don’t think they make anymore, but a darker-but-not-black color would show less floor grime. They’re durable and — unlike slippers — conveniently washable.
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- Flowers are not allowed in the ICU, but I also found that it made me sad to have to dispose of them. Lego flowers (like this fun chrysanthemum bouquet or this bright, splurge-y arrangement) would be fun to build on your own or with friends during visits. Move them from room to room, and then bring them home, a charming reminder of a challenging time.
- I lost one single AirPod in the hospital. Having wired headphones certainly would have helped me avoid this fate. I yearned to block out the near-constant beeping and din of folks coming in and out of the room at all hours. My colleague and audio expert Lauren Dragan also recommends these sleep headphones. You can wash the headband, and they’re comfy for sleep.
- I didn’t have my Kindle then, but wow, that would’ve been better for my brain than watching “Reign” all the way through in two days. I’d pair it with this Wirecutter-approved case, which opens like a book for easy holding. For paperback and hardcover loyalists, I’d give this tiny reading light so as not to disturb any hospital roommates while reading.
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Looking back, the best gifts were the tiny joys I didn’t even notice while I was recovering: the ping from my WhatsApp group of colleagues sharing headline bloopers; the tang of a Jersey Mike’s sub devoured during a gab sesh with my college roommate; letting my daughter brush my hair while sitting on the curb outside of Brooklyn Methodist.
The best gift is to just show up — in whatever way you can.
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 | The best care packagesMost care-package services offer a blah assortment of very similar items: face masks, candles, lip balms, socks. But we found a couple that stood out, thanks to their wide selection of great-quality goodies and breezy ordering processes. |
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More from our gifts experts |
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What to give: A nurse? |  |
My wife is a nurse. She spends all day caring for others and making sure their needs are met, and I’d like to gift her something that might make her shifts better and still be practical at work. Any thoughts on how to help my favorite health-care worker’s days be a touch easier? — A.N.
From gifting expert Hannah Morrill:
I polled a few nurse friends for this one and their answers were unanimous: Nurses really need self-care off the job. What about a day pass to a fancy hotel or spa in your area? You could dial-in the amenities she might like (sauna, facial, hot tub) and send her on the way. Or offer a home experience with this funny snail headband and my favorite face mask, which contains Icelandic silica and seawater and leaves my complexion (and psyche) completely calm.
As for on-the-job boosters, a stylish new pair of nurse-approved sneakers is always welcome. These Hokas come in fun, mood-lifting prints. (Although word has it On Clouds are even chicer if you feel like splurging.) Lastly, order her and her shift-mates an excellent meal — nurses get plenty of sweets and goodies, but a nourishing non-cafeteria lunch or dinner? Now that’s a gift. How lucky we are for your wife’s dedicated caregiving. Truly — a hug and your acknowledgment of her tremendous efforts also go a long way.
Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.
One last gift (for you): Our home decor experts write that this scalloped terra-cotta plant pot will add a little old-world European charm to your home. It’s currently on sale for $24 off.
You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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