When deciding what to write in a Get Well Soon card, you have to consider a number of factors. How serious is the illness? How well do you know the person? How are they likely to be feeling? For most non-serious conditions, you cannot go far wrong with “Get Well Soon” or some variant (“Hope you are feeling better soon”). For serious conditions, it is a bit more difficult – perhaps “Thinking of you” or “Sorry to hear about your accident/your bad news.” Sometimes a card might not be appropriate, and a personal visit is required. Here are some tips to help you deal with that situation.

Get Well Soon Poems

Sorry to hear that
You are feeling queasy.
We all understand that
Being sick ain’t easy.

<<>>

When I heard you were poorly
I thought “I think I’ll get her
A card to send best wishes
That she will soon be better.”

<<>>

I know that you’re not often ill,
It’s once in a blue moon.
So here’s a card to say that I
Hope you get well soon.

<<>>

I hope you’re not too ill.
I hope you get some rest.
I hope it won’t be long before
You are back to your best.

<<>>

Staying in bed all day
Sounds easy enough.
It’s going back to work
That really will be tough.

<<>>

What not to say to a sick person

“I feel so sorry for you”
People do not like to be the object of pity. Also, try not to give them a pitying look.

“If anyone can beat this, it’s you”
The idea that the sufferer is going to have to go into battle with the disease is unlikely to be a comfort.

“You’re looking well”
Chances are they have access to a mirror, and know they do not look well. If they ask you directly, you can play it down a little, but don’t make out they look the same as usual.

“You’re looking terrible”
I know this seems obvious, but apparently people are actually saying this to sick people. Stop it.

“Let me know the results”
They probably won’t want to feel obliged to hit the social networks as soon as they find out some terrible news. Don’t pressure them for anything.

“Whatever I can do to help”
It is better to make specific offers, such as looking after pets, or picking children up from school.

“What does chemotherapy / dialysis / etc feel like?”
Don’t be intrusive. They might not want to relive it all in detail. If they volunteer the information though, that is different.

“I’m very upset about this”
Don’t burst into tears and go on about how much you are going to miss them. This is obviously going to make them feel worse.

<<>>

How To Behave With The Ill
by Julia Darling

Approach us assertively, try not to
cringe or sidle, it makes us fearful.
Rather walk straight up and smile.
Do not touch us unless invited,
particularly don’t squeeze upper arms,
or try to hold our hands. Keep your head erect.
Don’t bend down, or lower your voice.
Speak evenly. Don’t say
‘How are you?’ in an underlined voice.
Don’t say, I heard that you were very ill.
This makes the poorly paranoid.
Be direct, say ‘How’s your cancer?’
Try not to say how well we look.
compared to when you met in Safeway’s.
Please don’t cry, or get emotional,
and say how dreadful it all is.
Also (and this is hard I know)
try not to ignore the ill, or to scurry
past, muttering about a bus, the bank.
Remember that this day might be your last
and that it is a miracle that any of us
stands up, breathes, behaves at all.