If you are scrambling for last-minute holiday gifts to delight the FSHers in your life, here are a few suggestions. We’d love to hear about your best holiday gift ideas in the comments section!
Reusable drinking straws. While FSHD can make it hard for some to sip through a straw, many others rely on straws because lifting a glass has become difficult. But as eco-conscious restaurants have stopped offering plastic drinking straws, what’s a person to do? Bring your own! Highly rated silicone Softy Straws come in four bright colors, with a cleaning brush ($11.99 on Amazon). If cool steel is more your style, check out this set of eight stainless steel straws in various sizes, which comes with two cleaning brushes, and a black carrying pouch ($8.99 on Amazon). We had seen a sterling silver straw from Tiffany & Co., but it seems to not be available anymore. Just as well. They cost upwards of $250!
Cannabidiol products. Move over kale! Cannabis sativa is the new super plant. Better known as marijuana and industrial hemp, this fast-growing species is the source of cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical that has become wildly popular in just the past year or two as a remedy for pain, insomnia, anxiety, and other ailments. A CBD-based drug has been approved to treat forms of childhood epilepsy. FSHD patients have reported on social media that CBD-containing creams are effective for treating pain. Unlike THC, CBD does not induce a “high”, and is legal in many states, although it remains a Schedule 1 substance under federal law. Distribution of CBD nationally is illegal, although the federal government has not enforced the law this year. For most consumers, a bigger concern is how to choose among the thousands of products that have popped up online. Green HoriZen is one brand recommended by a patient. Learn more about CBD here. UPDATE: The U.S. Congress has legalized the cultivation of hemp.
Accessible fashion. At long last, a major fashion brand, Tommy Hilfiger, has come out with a line of clothing for children and adults with a variety of disabilities. These stylish garments have magnetic fasteners, enlarged neck openings, adjustable lengths, etc. Designs are adapted for wheelchair users, people with limited range of motion, people who use leg braces, and other challenges. You can shop for them at Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive’s SmileAmazon store.
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