One of the worst things about having a loved one with a terminal illness is the powerlessness of the situation. It’s so unfair– you can’t control the prognosis, or the treatment. There’s not a lot of things you can say to bring comfort. After my mom’s surgery, she was super scared. Everything changed in the blink of an eye. All of a sudden, she wasn’t allowed to drive anymore. The tumour is on the language part of her brain, so it impacts her comprehension and ability to speak. TV shows and movies are too loud and bright, it hurts her head, and she stopped being able to read. She went from complete independence and a full-time job to not being able to do much of anything, overnight.
My mom is the best cook I know. Her dinner parties were legendary. She would set a beautiful table, deliver a gourmet cheeseboard for guests to graze on and then present three beautifully plated courses as naturally as most people breathe. So when she got sick, and couldn’t cook anymore, I knew I had to step up to the plate. Here’s what I made her while she in the hospital.
- Chicken Soup: This is an obvious one, right? Immediately after her brain surgery, her tummy was a bit off from all the meds. I made her lemon-y chicken soup, and boiled the bones to try and extract as many nutrients as I could. I kept a big batch in the ICU fridge and brought bowls and spoons from home to serve it to her, along with saltines.
- Cheesy crackers and shortbread: My mum loves crackers and shortbread, so I picked a few boxes up from the grocery store so that she would have something to snack on.
- Fresh Fruit: Hospital food is terrible, and sometimes you just need something fresh. I picked up grapes, honeycrisp apples, strawberries, anything that was in season. I washed it all up for her and cut up the things that weren’t easy to eat.
- Spaghetti and Meat Sauce: This is another one that travels well, can sit in an ICU fridge, and can be heated up for a nutritious meal. I would supplement with bread and butter, and never forget the parmesan.
- Quiche and Croissants: I picked this up from the local deli, but it was great for some protein and a quick snack.
Please consider donating to the Glioblastoma Research Foundation, if you have the means