A great gift reflects both care and understanding, though finding that balance isn’t always easy. It can be especially tricky to pick a gift for someone who has a blood or bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease. Choosing the right gift for your person can suit their needs and tastes and show that you appreciate their unique journey.
The following list of gift ideas includes a mix of thoughtfulness, comfort, and functionality for people with bleeding disorders.
1. Medical ID Jewelry (or Gift Card)
If you have a medical emergency and can’t speak for yourself, a medical ID might save your life. That’s why the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation encourages all people with a bleeding disorder to wear one — this type of ID lets medical personnel know the condition you have and the treatment you need.
Giving a medical ID as a gift lets your person know you care. Because medical ID jewelry is individual, however, it’s best to give a gift card from a jewelry manufacturer so your person can get exactly what they want.
Don’t want to give a gift card? Let your person know about the gift so they can include all the pertinent information about their condition before you purchase.
Another gift idea: If your person has a subscription-based smart ID with extra features, you could offer to pay for a year’s worth of service.
2. Reusable Cold Packs
Joint pain and swelling are a part of life for many people with bleeding disorders. Cold therapy is an effective treatment — it numbs the area, slows blood to reduce swelling and allows the body to heal.
Although a bag of ice or frozen peas will get the job done, a reusable cold pack is a gift that keeps on giving. These packs contain speciality formulated gels or soft beads that freeze in the freezer but still maintain some flexibility to comfortably wrap around joints.
Many sets come with an elastic wrap to hold a cold pack in place.
Bonus: If you know your person regularly needs to ice a certain joint, such as a knee, you could give a cold pack customized for that joint.
3. Yoga Class Membership and Equipment
Yoga builds strength and flexibility without the impact on joints that can cause bleeds.
The practice also incorporates breathing exercises and meditation to help people deal with stress and chronic pain.
At many yoga studios you can purchase a set of classes for your person; or, buy a private lesson to give them one-on-one time with an instructor, especially if they are just starting out. Plus, a yoga instructor or a physical therapist who has experience working with people with bleeding disorders can assure that the yoga is done in a way that minimizes pain and accounts for any injuries or limitations in movement.
Level-up your gift by adding equipment to enhance the yoga experience. For example, a yoga mat provides a light cushion and helps prevent slipping; mats are available in a wide variety of materials, thicknesses, and price points. Your person may also appreciate a towel to take to sessions, or a set of yoga blocks to support certain poses.
4. Compression Wraps or Sleeves
Along with ice, compression is a key part of self-treatment for bruising and swelling from bleeds.
Compression wraps are made of elastic material and available in different widths and lengths. They are used to apply pressure to a joint, which restricts blood flow to slow bleeding and reduces swelling to the joint and nearby tissues.
A gift including several types of wraps is a gift of versatility, enabling your person to apply a wrap wherever it is needed, whether it’s an ankle, knee, hip, elbow, wrist, or finger.
Alternatively, tublular elastic support bandages come in various sizes and can be cut to a desired length to provide support to a target area.
If your person gets frequent bleeds at the same joint with a predictable amount of swelling, consider giving a compression sleeve. Otherwise, a wrap will provide more versatility to suit different joints and swelling.
5. Shoes or Inserts (Gift Card)
Exercise is good for the body and mind, as it helps you manage weight, keep your heart healthy, and improve your mental well-being. But even the most basic exercises — such as walking — can be challenging when you have shoes that make your feet and ankles hurt.
Giving a gift card to an athletic shoe store allows your person to go in and get individualized attention from a professional shoe fitter and walk out with the right shoe that adds stability and comfort. A shoe fitting professional can also recommend inserts, which have been shown to reduce the number of bleeds.
Many stores offer professional fitting at no charge, though it’s best to call your location to confirm the details.
Besides the gift, you can encourage your person to see a physical therapist, podiatrist, or orthopedist before buying a pair of shoes. These experts can assess potential problems and make recommendations for shoes or inserts to buy.
6. Hydration Tracking Water Bottle
Staying hydrated supports overall health by regulating body temperature, helping with digestion, and getting rid of waste. People with blood and bleeding disorders benefit from hydration because it also cushions joints and keeps veins dilated for easier access during infusions.
A hydration tracking water bottle could be a great gift, to help your person remember to drink water and to hit daily targets.
On the low end of the price range, many plastic bottles have fluid amount markings on the side to serve as a visual reminder of progress in water drinking. Stainless steel varieties go up in price and are more durable. Insulated bottles can keep water cooler longer.
High-tech options have a variety of features and a wide range of price points, from $20 to $70 and up. Many have Bluetooth connectivity that links to a phone app to track your daily water intake, send reminders and encouragement to your phone to drink more water, and report on your intake trends over time.
7. Tribute Gift to an Advocacy Group
Advocacy groups provide an invaluable service to people with chronic health conditions and their loved ones, helping to support them and bring about policy changes that improve care. Making a donation to a bleeding disorders advocacy group is a meaningful way to support your person and others who have similar conditions.
The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), for example, uses gifts of all sizes to provide critical support to the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community, including researching better treatment options, advocating for quality health care, and creating tailored educational events.
Tribute gifts to NBDF can be made in honor or in support of your person.