Seven Great Get-Well Gift Ideas

When it comes to illness or injury, I’m a big proponent of the old maxim (pithy phrase, not the semi-adult men’s magazine) “Laughter is the best medicine.”  No one is sure who originally coined this phrase as it exists in numerous forms from numerous time periods.  Most trace its origin to the Bible, specifically, Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”  Others simply altered the verse by updating the Shakespearean English and dropping the part about death and dried bones.  Good idea, I think.

With the above thoughts in mind, here are some humorous (and not so humorous) get-well gift ideas.

1. Humorous, personalized letters within humorous get-well cards. Yeah, I know, this is a lot of work, but isn’t the recipient worth it?  Since I love movie references, here’s yet another one…Just recall what Vasher’s letters did for Rueben while he lay in his sick-bed in Ocean’s 13, despite Linus being unwilling to read them to Rueben due to their personal nature.  Rueben was out of his bed and at the craps table in no time.  Nothing says “I’m thinking and care about you” more than personalized notes, preferably hand-written.  As for funny cards, visit your local Wal-Mart or Target.  They’re everywhere.
2. “Straight Outta Surgery” T-shirt. Obviously, this play on the NWA album and movie, Straight Outta Compton, is restricted to those who, obviously, recently had surgery.  I think this shirt would be especially humorous for the very young and very old, but that’s just me.  Get it here.
3. Get-well brownie pops…so long as the patient’s condition allows. Decorated with medical themes, they’re almost too cute to eat…almost, but not quite.  Send a half-dozen from here.
4. Custom fortune cookies. Compose your own, humorous, fortunes and then let laughter take its course.  Personalize them to the recipient, for example, for the Star Wars fan: “Get well soon.  There is no ‘try.’  There is do or do not.”  Or alter existing fortune cookie favorites: “A doctor asks only for your money, not your time.” Or “A gall bladder is NOT a sexual organ.”  Order up a batch here.
5. Gift card/tickets for the future. Choose a specific event in the not-too-distant future and purchase tickets for you and the patient.  Ideally, it should be something you both enjoy, but the important thing is to get the recipient planning for the future.  If they had a hip or knee replacement, purchase dance lessons.  If he/she loves baseball, get tickets to an upcoming game.  You get the idea.
6. House cleaning/landscaping services. Either purchase them or complete them yourself, which, I think, would have more meaning.  Many people, who have done these chores for their entire adult lives, begin to obsess about them when incapacitated.  Remove that worry with this thoughtful gift.
7. Food delivery service. Like MagicKitchen.com, of course!  Similar to the above idea, MagicKitchen can give the ill or injured in your life one less thing to worry about, and that’s a very good thing.  And you can tailor the meals to meet their preferences.  Check out our get-well ideas here.

There you have it, four humorous and three serious get-well gift ideas that are sure to ease the pain of the sick or injured.