Last month my mother spent all of February going through a stem cell transplant. It was a scary time for her and the entire family. I really wanted to do something special to convey to my mom that I was there with her, holding her hand all the way, despite the long distance between us.
So I started doing some research. I wanted it to be more of an experience than a thing. Something she could take with her to the hospital and comfort her in times of loneliness or pain. I didn’t find anything that met the emotional aspect of what I wanted to do until I stumbled upon a Pinterest post from someone who wrote long distance love letters to a boyfriend. The post was clearly meant for a long distance love but for me, it clicked. And that is how I crafted this long distance cancer care package: “open when you” cancer care package.
Steps to create:
1 – Choose the number of days for your long distance cancer care package
Choosing the number of days for a cancer patient is entirely up to you. We chose 24 days so that she could open a letter for every day hospitalized.
2 – Brainstorm “open when you” phrases for each letter
This part takes a bit of creativity if you choose a high number of days. Imagine how he/she will be feeling during this difficult time. Get your family involved and you’ll be surprised by the sweet and funny things your kids will suggest. If you’re stuck, download my list of ideas to get you started.
3 – Decorate each envelope with happy, colorful teasers
This doesn’t have to cost a thing. Use letters of all sizes, but be careful to only go as big as you’re willing to pay for postage. I kept things under 4×6 size. Use crayons, markers, pencils or whatever you have in your house and tap into your artsy self, or have your kids dress them up. This will be the most time-consuming part of creating the package.
4 – Find or create solutions to insert in each envelope that matches the creative phrase
Solutions here can be whatever you want and don’t need to cost a thing. We mixed up homemade gifts with a few small inexpensive items that fit the feeling perfectly. As a family, we all worked on it and made it extra personal – from art drawings and photographs to a hand-sewn unicorn pillow from my daughter.
Since this package was created in mid-January, I found great deals at Oliver Bonas to fill some of the letters, such as Pink Fizz lip balm, upbeat socks, notebooks and motivational books. Raindrops on Roses is another fantastic store and 100% of the profits go to combat cancer. I LOVE that! I snagged this little gem from Bread & Jam, Little Box of Pick Me up motivation messages.
5 – Create an “Open Me 1st” card that is from You
After stuffing and sealing the letters, put them in a freezer size storage bag to compact it as much as possible. Then tape the “Open Me 1st” card to the outside of the bag so that your recipient will know what the package is all about. I chose a long distance “Across the Miles” card.
Creating this long distance cancer care package took 3 days from start to finish. We had a few snow days so the family hunkered down at the kitchen table to be sure it arrived in time.
The total package cost less than $50. The postage consumed the majority of the expense at $24. It was worth every penny. It was packed with so much love and personal emotion, that it made it feel possible to hold someone’s hand from a long distance after all. Not only will your recipient love it, you will personally feel so good about yourself and your family for doing it. It may even be more meaningful than anything you would have ever done in person.