A good friend of ours has tongue cancer (stage IV) and is undergoing agressive radiation and chemo. He is on a feeding tube and has difficulty swallowing even small amounts of water. After this weeks treatment, he will most likely not be able to talk.

All of his friends have been struggling with what to get him while he is in the hospital. There has been the usual helping out the family with kids, food, and the like, but we don't know what to get for him. Obviously food and flowers are not a good idea. I was thinking of getting a small white board with dry erase markers so he could communicate, and perhaps a book and some crossword puzzles, gift card for the wife to help buy things... Doesn't sound to creative though. Maybe the family just needs money, but I don't want to ask that. As a patient going through this, what was the best thing you received from friends/family?

TIA!