Imagine, firstly, that you are in hospital, lying sick. Just at the moment when you are beginning to despair and beginning to think no one cares about you, someone arrives at your bedside with a bunch of flowers and a card wishing you a quick recovery. Your spirits are instantly lifted, and you begin to fell okay….

You would only appreciate what a lovely thing a get-well-soon letter is when you are lying sick and someone sends it to you. So powerful a thing a letter is that some people prefer to write one even if they are able to be by the patient’s bedside. It inspires hope, and more importantly, it shows that someone cares.

In fact, get-well-soon letters are preferable to get-well-soon cards. Why? The simple truth is that a letter contains words from the sender. It shows care and commitment. It has that personal touch. No matter how sweet the words in the card are, the fact that they are not from you lessens their impact. (Of course, you could make a card yourself, if you are able to. It works pretty well too). So, if you are inclined to send a card, it would be a good idea to write a letter too.

The aim of a get-well-soon card or letter is to inspire the patient with hope—hope that she will get better and to show her that you care. Sometimes, all that a person requires is knowledge that people worry about her, care about her, and indeed, love her. Nothing is more sickening than not seeing those people you care for by your bedside. So, if you are not able to be by your friend’s bedside for any apparent reason, a get-well-soon letter will come to your rescue.

Allow me to talk a bit about hope. Why is hope so important? Well, according to the Awake! Magazine of April 22, 2004, to quote:

“‘Hope is powerful therapy,’ asserts medical journalist Dr. W. Gifford-Jones. He reviewed various studies carried out to determine the value of emotional support given to terminally ill patients. Presumably, this type of support helps people to maintain a more hopeful and positive outlook. One 1989 study found that patients who received such support survived longer, whereas recent research has been less conclusive on that score. However, studies have confirmed that patients who receive emotional support suffer less depression and less pain than do those without it.” –italics mine.

It is therefore important to instill hope in your friend. It would certainly help her recover quicker.

A good get-well-soon letter should:

1. show that you care about the person2. Instill hope3. show that you are aware of the person’s condition.4. express wishes of speedy recovery