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.

  • Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    151
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    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.

    • dohpaz42@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      18
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Every hobby can be considered an escape. But that doesn’t make it bad. Even dads and husbands need “me time” for themselves. So don’t tax his gig so hard-core cruster.

      Edit: spelling

      • krellor@fedia.io
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        3 months ago

        LMAO, I know it’s auto correct typos, but:

        So don’t tax his gag so hard-core cruster.

        Is excellent gibberish.

      • Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        13
        ·
        3 months ago

        I get this, I’m a dad, and I know that me time is wonderful, but I also know that if the house is in rough shape because I can’t do anything even if I wanted, that me time becomes an escape instead of a wind down, and the stress returns the moment the screen is off. Help with the house makes it so the relief lasts longer.

    • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      72
      ·
      3 months ago

      I hadn’t even considered cleaning services or meal kits. Those are a fantastic idea! I’ll reach out to his wife and get her input.

      • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        3 months ago

        I’m constantly overwhelmed with no broken arms, and just 1 day a week for someone to come in and “reset the mess” is incredible. You should probably talk with his wife and have the “this person is giving you time to do things that prioritize your family” talk, because some people can feel cleaning service is admitting failure in keeping up their home. (Also her talking with the kid about not treating this as an excuse to be messy isn’t bad either)

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      3 months ago

      That’s a bit of a biased opinion on video games, huh? Maybe some, but certainly not every game and definitely not every gamer is about escapism. Some people destress and chill out with games because they have other responsibilities like kids, work, etc…

      • Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        11
        ·
        3 months ago

        I’m in complete agreement, but with two broken arms, they aren’t going to be helping much with house chores (depending on how much mobility they actually have), and having those things done will actually allow for downtime.

        Game thought: DDR?

        • TheRealKuni@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          3 months ago

          Game thought: DDR?

          I feel like there’s a good chance you’d lose your balance with both arms in casts. Maybe not though. It’s a good suggestion!

    • Dr. Bob@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      3 months ago

      help them relieve stress by unburdening them…

      Uhhhh what are you suggesting here exactly?

  • jet@hackertalks.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    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

  • wuphysics87@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    3 months ago

    The bidet was a very solid choice. As generally privacy oriented as I am, I have no alternative. What about an Alexa + Audible?

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          3 months ago

          Lmao that would be a grade A prank. Show up to your follow up with Apple juice in it. Tell them you drove there. And rave about the kind stranger who refilled it for you.

  • saltesc@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    87
    ·
    3 months ago

    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.

      • saltesc@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        3 months ago

        Haha. I think my bone density is fine, I just ask a lot more of them than normal…

        Bones: “This could break us.”

        Brain: “Yeah, “could” but won’t. I got you.”

        collective being does a thing that will be amazing or moronic depending on outcome in the next few seconds

  • Drunemeton@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    3 months ago

    A GoFund me page!

    If that’s something you want to do and/or help manage for them, make sure to set it up in the one of their name(s) for tax purposes.

  • Mister Neon@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    3 months ago

    So depending on how much hand dexterity he has left with the broken wrists I suggest a back scratcher and one of those reacher grabber arms.