# Need some advice - sending a card to a friends sick niece. What should I say?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-sending-a-card-to-a-friends-sick-niece-what-should-i-say/705514>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 24, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-sending-a-card-to-a-friends-sick-niece-what-should-i-say/705514 "2014-11-24T20:00:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-sending-a-card-to-a-friends-sick-niece-what-should-i-say/705514/1 "2014-11-24T20:00:29Z")

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A coworker’s niece is battling cancer and we’ve been asked to send her Christmas cards early. Cheer her up. It’s not looking good. I’m not sure how long she’s got left. ☹

Should I say anything at all about her illness? Encourage her to get well? Or just keep it light? I got a humorous Christmas card.

I just don’t know what to say. I don’t want to sound cliched with a hang in there or get better remark. This matters.

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**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-sending-a-card-to-a-friends-sick-niece-what-should-i-say/705514/2 "2014-11-24T20:06:31Z")

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You shouldn’t not mention it, then it becomes even more noticeable! I would say something like

“Dear X,  
I was saddened to hear of your illness from \_\_\_\_. I wanted to say that we are thinking of you this Christmas season. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy yourself.  
Merry Christmas and wishing you well,”

Tweak as you like!

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-advice-sending-a-card-to-a-friends-sick-niece-what-should-i-say/705514/3 "2014-11-24T20:15:04Z")

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Thank you Anaamika

advice noted and taken. 😉 I’ll print too just in case she wasn’t taught cursive. She’s just a teen.