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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 17 >> She wanted her husband to be able to breath by himself but it was difficult to focus only on this because other things kept going wrong.

Her husband was admitted to ICU because of a brain aneurysm. She spent eight weeks visiting him in two different hospitals, sometimes staying overnight.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 03 >> At the time her son was ill she didn't know he was being kept alive by machines.

In 2004 her 17-year-old son was a passenger in a car that was involved in a serious accident. He spent 17 days in ICU.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 24 >> The ambulance arrived quickly and her mother was taken from Accident and Emergency to ICU within a few hours because she'd had cardiac arrest.

Her mother had cardiac arrest. She spent nine days in ICU and now lives with her daughter. She received a lot of support from her family.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 70 + >> Interview 25 >> He waited at his wife's bedside until the early hours of the morning but no one at that time could tell him whether she would survive.

In 2006 his 79-year-old wife was admitted to intensive care. Their daughter was their main support and they are now moving to live near her.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 23 >> He tried not to watch the monitors too much and, instead, focussed on being positive and on all the things he and his partner enjoyed doing together.

In 2006 his partner spent four weeks in ICU because of pneumonia. He visited her every day, sharing the visiting with his partner's parents.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 36 >> He felt visitors shouldn't have to worry about parking when they have a relative in intensive care.

His father went to ICU after having a stroke and developing pneumonia. Members of the family supported one another and he is now closer to his sister.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 30 & under >> Interview 21 >> Her partner only realised how long he'd been in hospital when he saw that his baby daughter had started teething.

In 2005 her partner had a car accident and spent over four months in ICU. She visited daily while her mother looked after her new baby.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 18 >> After saying her goodbyes to her friend, all she could do was wait until after the operation for further news.

Her best friend spent two weeks in ICU. She was the closest person to her, visited her daily and is now her main carer.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 03 >> At the beginning there was very little change in her son's condition and sending updates was difficult because people often misinterpreted a slight ch

In 2004 her 17-year-old son was a passenger in a car that was involved in a serious accident. He spent 17 days in ICU.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 13 >> The nurses explained everything about the treatments, answered all her questions and supported her through an extremely difficult time.

In 2006 her husband had liver disease and pneumonia and sadly died in ICU. She has gained strength from having counselling and from her spirituality.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 07 >> They felt confused and upset and didn't understand why doctors were asking them to think about end of life decisions when their son could breathe with

Their son was admitted to ICU in 2005 with bacterial meningitis. It was a traumatic time but he is now back home and has made excellent progress.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 13 >> Her husband, who'd had liver disease, improved slightly at first but was then re-admitted to ICU from HDU and died two days later.

In 2006 her husband had liver disease and pneumonia and sadly died in ICU. She has gained strength from having counselling and from her spirituality.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 09 >> She felt doctors used a lot of medical language and didn't explain clearly that their son would be dying that very night, which came as a huge shock.

Her son had lymphoma and bowel perforation and sadly died on a ward. She felt doctors should explain information clearly to relatives, who are usually unfamiliar with medical terms.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 36 >> His father is a different person now and looks as healthy as he did 18 months ago when he was very well.

His father went to ICU after having a stroke and developing pneumonia. Members of the family supported one another and he is now closer to his sister.