The ‘stuck in hospital’ care package
Need a reason to get your craft on? An encouraging banner for your hospital-bound chum is as good as any, we reckon. 1. Handmade felt banner. Between flashing machines, TVS on at all hours, and harsh fluoro lighting, a soothing eye mask won’t go astray during hospital nap times. 2. Gum Leaves eye mask, rrp $24, wheatbagslove.com.au. Also important for long periods spent horizontal? Comfy-as-heck
PJS to sloth around in, while feeling a bit nice. (Loose-fitting duds work best, and short-sleeve tops for easy arm access in case an IV drip is required.) 3. Half Moons cami, rrp $55, and 4. Clay Banksia pyjama pants, rrp $65, nancybird.com; 12. Soxygen socks in Raindrops 2, rrp $18.95, tightology.com.au. When visiting hours are over, hospitals become mighty boring places to be. Choose a book your friend can sink into – something funny, fantastical, or that will take them away to a completely different place. 5. Ayiti by Roxane Gay, rrp $29.99, hachette. com.au. A simple way to brighten up an in-patient’s stay is to swap standard-issue, sterile toiletries for more personal alternatives (because even brushing your teeth can be cute). 6. Laneways cloud soap, rrp $18, viceandvelvet.com.au and 8. Marvis toothpaste in cinnamon mint, rrp $13.95, mitchellmccabe.com.au. If you’re down in the dumps and feeling shit, unsolicited health advice is the pits – leave that to the doctors and share your love and support instead. 7. Treatment on the Internet empathy card, around $6, emilymcdowell.com. Popping on some fresh undies can be surprisingly refreshing, especially if you’re lying around all day, feeling a bit stale. Plus, it’s kind of fun to know there’s a pair of cute knickers underneath your miserable-looking hospital gown. 9. Floral cotton knickers, rrp $46, foxinjocks.etsy.com. Go one better than the teddy bears piled up in the hospital gift shop with a hand-crafted plush pal for your under-the-weather friend. 10. Frog Friend, rrp $160, catrabbit.bigcartel.com. The first rule of recovery from any illness: hydrate and rest. Chances are your mate will be more likely to quench their thirst if the water comes from a spiffy reusable water bottle. 11. S’well Betsy Ann insulated drink bottle, rrp $59, petersofkensington.com.au