Gift for surgeon?

[klynnc]

This is kind of a wierd question, but I am wondering now that I am all fixed up and flying back home to New Orleans today, if it is normal to send a gift of gratitude to your surgeon? I somehow feel compelled as I feel he gave me a 2nd chance at life, but not sure if this is wierd or if it leaves too many important people out that played an important role (ie nurses, anesthesia, cardiologist, etc)
Just wondering if anyone else feels this way and what the "pc" thing to do is.....?

 

[Freddie]

Why not?
If it makes you feel good, by all means do it!
I'm sure to whom ever you send it to would really appreciate it.
Send a card to the nurses on the ward would work.

 

[Mary]

I think that would be a lovely gesture, but if you don't want to go that route, you might want to write a personal note and express your thanks in it.
I must confess that I did neither.

 

[netmiff]

I wouldn't go overboard with a gift (yes, I think if you want to, why not!), but maybe something that the whole staff could share? Can't think of anything right now, maybe a great big fruit basket or something like that?? Or wait until you get home and send him a signed Toots picture!

 

[Bina]

Our hallway had a bulletin board full of Thank You cards.....and I'm sure that a box of expensive gourmet chocolates would be welcomed.

 

[Phyllis]

We wrote thank you notes and I sent the surgeon and the cardio a picture of Dick playing tennis the first time out on the courts.

 

[Jkm7]

I was so immensely grateful to my cardio who really held my hand getting me through my second OHS (went way behond anything he had to do), that I gave him a gift at my first appointment with him post op.

I felt a little awkward about it so gave it to his nurse (who I know well) and asked she give it to him after I left. :embarrassed:

I got a lovely note from him thanking me.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Our local hospital also has a bulletin board on the Cardiology floor where notes / cards from patients are displayed. They are GREATLY APPRECIATED.

If you received Flowers and they are still in good condition, you may want to consider leaving them at the Nursing Station. A container of a good Hand Lotion is often appreciated by the Nursing staff (ASK if that is OK and what is their preferred brand).

I'm thinking that heartfelt notes of gratitude may be appreaciated more than gifts, especially to the Surgeon, who will be handsomely rewarded for his efforts by your insurance company.

 

[Cameron]

We left a big basket of non-heart-healthy snacks for the nurses on the CSICU ward (attending docs were also allowed to partake) who looked after me so well - it is hard to pin everyone down as the rotations are so wierd and there are LOTS of people who participate in your care that you don't see. However, the nurses were the front line and we wanted to thank them first and foremost for their unending kindness.
I also sent a thank you card to my surgeon.

 

[Rich]

I send a thank you card to my surgeon every year on the anniversary of my operation. He has received twelve so far.
Rich

 

[Eva]

I sent a big thank you card on Thanksgiving to the surgeon and staff and planning to take a basket of fruits/Mediterranean sweets when I go next time to his office for all to share. As for the nurses in the ICU, they appreciated a basket of anything (cookies, tea bags, fruits, small yogurts) which all the nurses and patients' family members had access to ... all these were kept in a private room with a fridge and water dispenser with cups. I personally gave a small gift to the one who stayed with me longest time, as I requested that she stays taking care of me and she was like a young sister/daughter. She was very shy and hesitant but appreciated it.

 

[tprice54]

I did not get a gift for my surgeon, who had a very"surgeon-like" demeanor, and heck, I only saw him once after surgery.
BUT, I did something for my cardio who worked with me to get me back to running marathons....gave him my New York marathon finishers medal. He has it hanging in his office.

 

[JimL]

$10,000

$10,000

I gave my surgeon ten grand out of gratitude. Or my insurance did, out of necessity. I gave my coumadin nurse a bottle of homemade wine.

 

[Eva]

I gave my surgeon ten grand out of gratitude. Or my insurance did, out of necessity. I gave my coumadin nurse a bottle of homemade wine.

Jim, you think like my hubby does! When I mentioned I want to take something to him and his office staff, that was his response
But I owe it to his staff...they were so patient with me and I almost called his office every day with a questions and they returned my calls with answers and sometimes he would call me back.

I liked your answer.

 

[AgilityDog]

I sent the pulmonologist who recognized I had a heart condition (after my PCP blew me off) and his staff a chocolate dipped fruit basket. From my hospital bed.

When Tank and I returned to the agility trials 5 months after surgery, there was a photographer present, and I got extra copies of us running the course, then sent them to my pulmonologist, my surgeon, and my cardio with a card.

THEN, a few months later, at my 12 month appointment, my surgeon had just gotten a puppy. I sent him some dog training books, a list of local trainers, and a few puppy toys. But that's because I'm a pest, and he ASKED me for trainer referrals.

Oh, and my hubby brought chocolates for the ICU staff while I was in there, bitching every minute. Ditto for the floor nurses when I got transferred.

 

[debster913]

I gave both my cardiologist and my surgeon a baseball jersey from the school where I teach. I had them personalized with their last names on the back and the number 06 for the year of my surgery. I thought it was a pretty cool present since they were both on my "team," and I really just wanted to get back to my job! I know my cardio got a kick out of it! Although I only saw my surgeon twice, he had an excellent demeanor; and my cardio, who I see all the time, is like family, so I thought it was appropriate to give each of them a gift. I wrote them each a note expressing my gratitude for giving me my life back.

I also brought a 2-pound box of See's chocolates for the office girls.

 

[WayneGM]

I didn't send anything specially to my surgeon, but I did send a gift basket to the cardiology department (which he heads). To be honest, I hardly saw him and thought all the "worker bees" would appreciate the gesture more than he would.

 

[Adrienne]

When I finally had my post-op appointment with my surgeon, I brought him a bottle of port wine with a tiny card I made and attached that said (in French) "Thank you from the bottom of my repaired heart"!!

I send my surgeon a Xmas card every year as well.

When I left the hospital, my husband came with a box of chocolate for the nursing staff.

 

[ponygirlmom]

I was wondering what to get my surgeon, and my dad -- a doctor! -- said it wasn't typical to give anything. He said to wait until after my last follow-up appointment, at any rate.

But I did send a tray of fancy cupcakes to the nursing staff of both the ICU and the cardiac ward.

 

[hall]

I was going to get the surgeon something until he sent me a bill for PAPERWORK for $98.00 that ofcouse, my insurance would not pay. I was extremely grateful, but $98.00 was what he received!