When I had my accident My husband found grocery store cards very helpful. He could use them for groceries or for some of the ready made meals that they sell. Something else that meant a lot was when people offered to run an errand for us. I needed someone to stay with me 24 hours a day and we had 3 children at the time and I was unable to care for them at all. If my husband needed to get my meds or food, or anything it meant finding someone to stay with me and the kids so he could run those errands. We had several friends who would call and ask if we needed anything and would stop and pick up meds or whatever else i needed. It helped a lot. If you are close with this co-worker you could even offer to stay with him for an hour while his wife gets out of the house. Also if you cook you could take them a meal. If all of your co-workers got together and arranged for someone to cook one meal a week and their were 7 people who would agree to do this then his wife would not have to try and cook, care for him and then their baby. I hope some of this helped. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask me. I hope your coworker heals as fast as he can and I hope for the best outcome for him and his family. Jenn

For the family: I think grocery store gift cards are wonderful for the family, also, if you know what pharmacy they use, a gift card so that they can continue to get thier perscriptions. For the baby, maybe baby wipes, diapers if the baby still wears them, baby food, etc.

Now for your coworker: waterless shampoo, finger toothbrushes, wipes to clean the body and face, mints, chapstick, lotion, or anything that he uses a lot or anything to keep clean. It seems like such a small thing to be clean, but when your in a hospital and want to be clean, these items are a God send. You can find the waterless shampoo and finger toothbrushes at CVS, Walgreens, etc.

iknow with my accident we had to make several trips to the hospital for my appt. and it was an hour oneway drive,and at that time gas was up. some people gave us gas cards to help. also at work they would do 50/50 drawings to help give a little money which helped to. i got alot of cards in the mail with people that were in accidents and what they had to go through, and words of encouragment. Honestly, this place has been the best thing that ever happened to me.

Something else that was great that my coworkers did was they donated their vacation time to me so that I would still receive a paycheck. They did that until my disability kicked in which took 3 months. Without that money my family would not have survived the first 3 months.

Arrange to have complete meals delivered to the house a couple times a week.

Pay for help to come into the house to clean once a week so mom can spend time with the baby and husband wihtout housework hanging over her head.

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I know people want to help.Ithink the best thing to dois to talk to the family about what they might need. Some time people do not need or want much help. But the offer of helpis always appriecated. . When my husdand died my church ask me fora list of thing i needed help with so igave them one.a long list of thing that could be done or not done. it was up to them. there were things like raking and mowing my very big yard. clening out kitchen cabinets .installing some new lights on my front porch. halling off some junk. The also brough food but I did not need tons of cooked food there was only one of me and I was on a special diet and they brough enough for an army . It was wasted.
So I say ask the family what they need . I know when my son was in the hospital i have to pay $12.00 for parking each time. and the gas was costing a lot becasue I had to drive so far and then we ate out almost every time. so paying for some of these things would be nice good . You can get gift cards they can use anywhere. Baby sitting can be of help