Recovery gift ideas

Once they have recovered, the gift becomes a congratulation rather than comfort. Choose a bouquet in bright colours such as yellow, orange and white instead of the calm shades that suit the time of illness, and write a short congratulation on the card with your name. If the colour is the hard part, see what flower colours mean.

The first days after leaving hospital are spent at home with visitors coming and going, so a vase suits better than a bouquet because it arrives arranged and goes straight into the majlis. You do not need to know the discharge day, because they or a family member pick the day and the slot from the link. If they are still in hospital, see gifts for someone who is sick.

After days of illness you cannot tell whether they want flowers to brighten the room, sweets for their visitors or a plant that lives on with them, and plants are delivered in Riyadh. Pick 2 to 8 gifts and they choose one without seeing the prices. They also set the day when they are rested at home.

For your mother, sister or friend after surgery, a soft vase by her bed or flowers with chocolate for her visitors. Choose calm colours while she rests and bright ones once she is up and about. For more ideas, see gift ideas for women.

A man who has recovered is glad of a perfume from his own brand to wear on his first day back at work or his first Friday out. And for the visitors who come to wish him well, a box of chocolate for his majlis. For more ideas, see gift ideas for men.

Many families hold a gathering at home to give thanks for a recovery. Send a cake to serve with the coffee and write your congratulations on the card that comes with it. Send it a day before the gathering so the family can set a time that suits them.