Lorna played a critical role in my wife’s recovery from a serious brain haemorrhage. When I first saw C in the Critical Care Unit, on a ventilator, and under a sedation hold, with a tube in her nose and another in her skull, it wasn't easy to understand. It was also hard to believe things could turn out well. All of the Critical Care nurses were kind and empathetic, taking time to explain what was going on and how things would, or should, progress. This was very helpful to me, as C’s partner and carer, and to all the friends and family who were eager to know how she was faring.

However, when C was still not ‘awake’ after more than a week, I began to have severe doubts about her recovery. That’s when Lorna took me aside and talked me through the possible outcomes and the ways in which we could help C recover. I brought in photographs that would help C when she started to emerge from sedation. I sent messages to her through the Thinking of You app, sharing images and well wishes from friends. I also began to prepare myself mentally and emotionally for a long recovery period. Lorna's knowledge and counsel were critical to this process, just as her nursing skills were critical to C’s emergence from sedation and successful transition from Critical Care to the Neurosurgery Enhanced Care Unit.

I have to say that, from the perspective of a partner and carer, the standard of nursing in the Critical Care Unit at UHCW was excellent throughout her stay and there are several other nurses that I want to commend. Now that C is back at home and continuing to make a remarkable recovery, I can see that Lorna's role in the process was pivotal, for C and for me, and I will always be deeply grateful for that.