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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 35 >> Although her mother had good and bad days, she was overjoyed when she saw her sit up, smile and talk again.

Her mother was admitted to ICU because of gallstones and other complications. She visited her every day, often with her two young daughters, and kept a diary.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 17 >> Her life was so focussed on the hospital she hardly slept, worried every time the phone rang, and felt anxious and irritable.

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 33 >> From the time her husband was admitted to ICU to the time he came back home, she'd run the whole gamut of emotions.

Her husband was admitted to ICU after having emergency surgery. It was particularly difficult looking after other family members as well as visiting her husband.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 28 >> At the beginning she felt her life revolved around the hospital and found it comforting talking to her family in the evenings.

Her daughter was admitted to a ward and her son-in-law to ICU after they had a car accident. She stayed in their home so she could visit.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> She found her brother-in-law difficult to get on with and sometimes felt put upon when he and his mother were staying with her while her husband was i

Her husband was admitted to ICU after having emergency surgery. It was particularly difficult looking after other family members as well as visiting her husband.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 22 >> He praised one of the senior doctors who always told him about his wife's progress very directly and honestly.

His wife had emergency surgery to remove a kidney. He found it difficult to discuss his feelings but received comfort from sitting alone in the hospital chapel.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 13 >> Some days during the next few weeks she felt so depressed she didn't want to see anyone or leave the house.

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 31-40 >> Interview 29 >> Family members sometimes became very emotional when his partner's mother was having a bad time and he benefited from talking about this with friends.

His partner's mother was admitted to ICU after an accident in the home. He lived with them at the time and tried to provide emotional support.