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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 03 >> She felt that visitors were supportive of each other and, because her son was so young, she received enormous support as well.

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 30 >> When other visitors asked him questions, it reinforced for him just how important it was for doctors to communicate clearly.

His father died in ICU, aged 83. Being an intensive care doctor, he was able to provide information and support to his mother and brother.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 61-70 >> Interview 37 >> He tried to give support and encouragement to a man who was losing hope for his critically ill son.

His wife spent 49 days in ICU because of severe lung problems. After her illness, he became involved in helping improve services for ICU patients.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 12 >> She gained comfort from talking to other people in the relatives' room and did her best to be as positive as possible.

In 2005 her 21-year-old son sadly died in ICU. She focuses as much as she can on remembering the good memories they shared.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 01 >> She found it upsetting talking to people who'd been bereaved but reassuring to see some people recover and move out of intensive care.

In March 2005 her sister was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. This is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and spinal chord.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 04 >> She found it extremely traumatic when someone died and difficult to be supportive to others when her own son was also fighting for his life.

In October 2004, her son had a motorbike accident and was admitted to ICU. He had a serious head injury and broken jaw.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 70 + >> Interview 26 >> Many of the visitors she saw in the relatives' room were understandably wrapped up in their own crises, and she often sat and read a book until she wa

In 2006 her sister-in-law sadly died in ICU after having an accident in her car. She visited her daily and took care of all the practical matters.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 24 >> The relatives' room wasn't really big enough and you couldn't make yourself a drink.

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 61-70 >> Interview 14 >> She asked lots of questions and wanted to be kept informed but was surprised when she spoke to other visitors who knew very little about their relativ

She has cared for her husband full-time since he had a heart attack and life threatening infection that meant he had to have his leg amputated.

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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> The relatives' room >> The relatives' room

The relatives' room