SEND GET-WELL CARDS TO SICK KIDS IN HOSPITAL
Brighten the day of a seriously ill child in hospital, by sending a get-well greeting card!
The life of a sick child in hospital can be very depressing. When a sick child remains hospitalized for months, they often suffer from severe loneliness, as well as dealing with their illness. Visits from family and friends may drop off, as the months drag on. Sometimes a child is sent to a hospital far away from home, where they specialize in a certain disease. Some parents can't afford to take time away from caring for other children, or to spend money on travelling to see their hospitalized child.
Meanwhile, the child sits alone in a hospital bed, without phone calls or friendly faces. Their days may be filled with painful medical procedures, or just the dull routine of tests, pills, and hospital life. For these unlucky kids, the only human contact they may get is impersonal treatment from doctors and nurses, who often don't have time to deal with children's emotional issues.
By sending a get-well card to a child in hospital, you can make a huge difference in their life! Your message of caring can cheer a hospitalized kid, and give them the inspiration to live another day.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
Since some chronically ill children may never recover, be careful about how you word your "get-well" message. In fact, your card should aim to cheer-up the child without actually saying "get well soon". Instead, "Thinking of You" and "Friendship" cards convey the spirit of "get-well soon" without raising false hope in children who may never get better.
Be considerate of the child's personal interests when writing your card. Each of the websites listed below provide biographical details about individual children (such as favorite cartoon characters, hobbies, etc.), that you can use to create a personalized message. Knowing that you share an interest with them, and know something about them as a person, can make a hospitalized child feel special and loved.
Also keep in mind that laughter truly can be the best medicine, for a chronically ill child. Keep your message light and cheerful. Jokes are always fun for children. There are many appropriate children's jokes on Aha Jokes.
Finally, all get-well greetings must be sent through postal mail. Ecards will NOT be accepted.
WHAT TO WRITE IN YOUR CARD:
If you're not sure what to write in your card, here's a sample greeting that you can edit/use:
Hello (Child's First Name)!
I just wanted to say hello from [City and State]. I am wishing you a day full of great big smiles and bright blue skies. I would like to share a funny joke with you:
(insert riddle, knock-knock joke, or other clean joke here)
I hope you thought this was funny. I sure did!
Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely yours, (Your First and Last Name)
WHERE TO SEND YOUR CARDS
Check out these organizations online, which will give you guidelines for sending greetings to a sick child:
