I came across a brilliantly helpful list of Christmas gift ideas for those living with arthritis, and this made me wonder if you might need some inspiration about what to get that special heart patient on your gift list this year.

Personally, I’m hoping Santa stuffs a new electric heating pad into my stocking, hint, hint. But I decided to turn to my always generous-of-spirit Heart Sisters at Inspire’s WomenHeart online support community to ask these heart disease survivors:  “What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?”  Here are some of their informed responses . . .

• 1.  I’d love a gift certificate for a relaxing massage.
• 2.  How about a brand new car with heated seats?
• 3.  A gift card to a favourite pharmacy and a monogrammed pillbox in a favourite colour.
• 4.  The ever-popular nitro necklace - I always wanted to bedazzle one to make it pretty!
• 5.  The Mediterranean Cookbook from Williams-Sonoma for heart healthy food.
• 6.  A pretty, gorgeous, charming MedicAlert bracelet or necklace that you actually feel upbeat when wearing (gift certificates available).
• 7.  I always ask for workout clothes. I can do anything better if I have new clothes to do it in!  Also, new athletic shoes.
• 8.  I’d give anything for a Wii Fitness – any wealthy donors out there?
• 9.  I have actually asked my folks to help me pay for my cardiac rehabilitation; this is a real need for me right now, so I’m asking that any money for Christmas gifts go to my rehab fund instead. (Years ago I never would have asked for something like this!!!)
• 10.  Count Me Healthy jewelry – great idea to help us keep count of calories and water daily; no more carrying a pen and paper around to jot this information down.
• 11.  A food processor –  to help prepare all those heart-healthy meals!
• 12.  Cooking classes – another great idea to help us make great heart-healthy food.
• 13.  Anything from the WomenHeart Store at the National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease - from Red Dress note cards to Tart Cherry Pancake Mix with Fibre (and proceeds help to support WomenHeart advocacy and education programs)
• 14.  A zipper so they can stop cutting!!!  ( an in-joke among repeat open heart surgery survivors)
• 15.  Post-it notes so I can write down ideas, tasks & messages and leave them around the house for when my mind evicts them, so I can figure out where I’m supposed to be or what I’m supposed to be doing.
• 16.  How about a pretty red dress, or red blouse or red scarf to celebrate living and thriving with heart disease?
• 17.  I just found the dreamiest silky soft pashmina scarf: creamy white, light weight and feels so warm, feminine and cozy. too. Pashminas can be dressed up or down, worn loosely or folded in half before draping. As a heart girl with cold weather angina, I love lightly covering my chest with the protection of a scarf ‘that doesn’t make me look sick’.
• 18.  A cleaning lady who cleans and helps with decorating (mine put the tree up for me) or a few hours with “Driving Miss Daisy”, a chauffeur service for those who don’t drive.
• 19.  Lunch out with all the family during the holiday so no one has to cook or clean, just enjoy our time together before they have to go back to their corners of the world, and a new family photo.
• 20.  What I would like this Christmas is time with my family, a hug and kiss from each of them. To me these things are priceless and don’t cost a thing.  Health and happiness have no price tag. Take time to tell your family and friends that you love them. Maybe peace on earth would be a good thing too.

 If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with heart disease, visit the WomenHeart online support community: