Gifts for my best friend who broke both of his arms?
Gifts for my best friend who broke both of his arms?
My bestie broke both of his arms and wrists two days ago. He's in his 20s, a gamer, has a pregnant wife and a young kid. Any ideas for gifts I can get to cheer him up? He'll have no use of his arms for 3 months.
Already got a bidet for him and hooked it up. Looking into accessible gaming controllers, but he said that the pain is so bad rn that even alternative controllers are probably a no go.
Cleaning service, any house services really, freezer meals, or other little to no prep foods, offer to play with their kid from time to time, help them relieve stress by unburdening them (by taking on chores), instead of providing an escape (video games)
Edit: not dissing video games, but a young one and another on the way is a lot of stress already.
I've broken a lot of bones.
Get him stuff that helps the family so he doesn't feel useless and guilty. That's number 1. It's awful to feel like a burden to everyone, and that doesn't go away no matter what is said to you.
Second, stretch bands to put around limbs and pull. It feels amazing. You don't realise how little you move and how little muscle you use while subconsciously "nursing" a broken bone.
Something insanely complex that involves both arms to use or solve. It's just funny as shit. But also, I swear I recover faster.
You don't give your friend a thing, you give his poor wife something. A bidet goes so long and pregnancy itself is hard.
Seriously: Offer her to do some chores like shopping, gift them some take-away gift cards,etc. The situation will put a serious strain on their relationship,
In all seriousness, if you want to be helpful the best thing you can do is spend some time with him in person. He can tell you what he needs, and you can show him you care. If I got seriously crippled like this I probably would start thinking that none of my friends will make time for me because I have become a burden. Prove that nasty self-talk wrong!
Firstly, my sympathies for your friend's horrible situation
Secondly, don't let him near anyone's mother.
Oh no.
A bidet
Juggling balls.
Then spend a lot of time hanging out with him while he recovers.
An Alexa or Google voice activated assistant (and setting it up for them), so they can watch movies, play music, etc.
3 months of netflix, prime, audiobook membership, etc
Tobii eye-tracker for gaming/mouse movements, foot pedal buttons
Foot dexterity toys, balls, rocks - so they can get better using their feet and toes.
A ebook with voice activation
A big touch screen monitor hooked up to their cellphone / computer so they can do computer stuff with their feet. And screencast/chromecast to a big tv display. So navigate with feet, and big display for easy viewing.
A huge cost-co sized bottle of anti-diarrheal pills.
A stadium pal, or leg strapped urinal device.
Gag gifts
Sign up for you friend to get visited by the mormons or the 7th day adventists (I mean, he has to fill his days doing something, right?)
Cattle scratcher post
fleshlight mounted on a pole
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Rubik’s cube
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As someone mentioned, an Alexa speaker. You mentioned a young kid and Amazon Kids has some great audio games you can play. I've had a blast either playing along with my kiddo or just watching him. Plus you can connect them for use as an intercom.
Occasional outings and a change of scenery might be appreciated as time goes on.
For gaming, I highly recommend a trackball mouse since it requires so little movement, and depending on the model the buttons don't require a lot of force to be pressed.
A quick google shows me that these work even on an xbox.
I would suggest a fingertip trackball, and one with the largest ball diameter you can find. The larger the ball the more accurate and less movement needed.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Kensington-FusionTM-Wireless-Trackball-K72363WW/dp/B08D356XB6/
^ This is my daily driver, but it is better suited to someone with small hands.
https://www.amazon.com.au/KENSINGTON-K72359WW-Kensington-Wireless-Trackball/dp/B00009KH63/
^ This is the easiest to use, most comfortable for almost anyone with larger bands, and requires little force to click.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Kensington-Orbit-Trackball-Scroll-K75327WW/dp/B07YVMXLQC/
^ This is another smaller contender that may be easier on his hand, as it is more rounded. Some people need flat, some need round.
Put a washcloth under the left side of whichever one he chooses so he can adjust the tilt so his wrist won't hurt.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Elgato-Stream-Deck-Pedal-footswitches/dp/B09PRMCTGB/
^ Something like this would be good for the first little while, he can drive with the trackball and use his feet to click. There are lots of these at different price points.
For comfort, things to ease the itch and miserableness of the casts that will come. It keeps you up at night.
https://www.amazon.com.au/CastCooler-Immediate-breathable-orthopaedic-manufacturer/dp/B003XNNCV0/
^ Very cool product I wish was around when I had a cast. Seems well reviewed.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Scratcher-Cleaner-Sanitizer-Cleansing-Included/dp/B092472C4Y/
^ These to scratch itches down the cast. He should put nothing else down the cast, and don't put it so far down that you lose it. The skin under the cast will become very thin and fragile, anything put down it with a sharp edge could scratch and the warm moist environment could breed infection.
Regarding toilet time, if the bidet you got does not have a dryer function he may need to dry his booty when he's done. Many homes that have bidets everyone has their own little towel they use. He could move a stool or something in the bathroom and put a specified towel over it to sit on to dry himself.
My condolences to your friend, really glad he has a friend to help him.
A long-handled scratcher. For reaching places that the casts are now not going to allow his arms to bend towards.
His arms are also going to get itchy AF inside those casts.
And for shits and giggles, get him a few rubber model cockroaches to stuff down inside those casts the day of their removal. Or really, any small rubber insect that is disagreeable to most people.
Gimble vice and a fleshlight?
There's a game you control by blinking. Before Your Eyes. It's a fairly short indie game, and maybe a bit heavy, but he should be able to play it just fine.
If he likes music, a good sound system.
Extra long straws for drinks.
My friend’s wife just broke her arm, so I sent her this: A Farewell to Arms: The Hemingway Library Edition
The bidet was a very solid choice. As generally privacy oriented as I am, I have no alternative. What about an Alexa + Audible?
microphone and setup windows voice commands
Some sort of food eating helper? Also help them every now and then physically. Not like that. Help them pick up, clean, get groceries for them, etc.
Ooh! A Walmart+ membership for grocery delivery?
A hacky sack
Dance mat controller for his console/PC
/s
