At the moment, my mother is still alive. Flo arrived at the hospital around 6 p.m. on Tuesday; and, after I updated her on the stroke, spent a short time at the bedside. However, she was very tired from jetlag. So we discussed things, and decided that she would return the following day to spend a few hours, after which we would tell the doctors to take my mother off life support.

This all changed the following morning when, just as Flo was about to leave, the hospital rang to say that our mother had woken up.

Sad to say, although her vital signs were improving and she was conscious, this did not alter the effects of the stroke. As afternoon wore on, it became clear that my mother was aware that she was, as they say, "trapped in her own body". Her left arm has long since been paralysed by the effects of radiation for the cancer she'd had in her late forties; now the right arm is paralysed by the stroke. Furthermore, she several times tried weakly to talk; but, although she seemed to be forming words, Flo could make no sense of them. By afternoon, therefore, our mother was starting to give Flo looks of despair and pleading.

I had gone home to have a nap; but, after I returned in the early evening, I also recognized what my mother was trying to convey. I am sure that she does not want to die; but, for her, this is a fate worse than death.

We have therefore told the doctors that, from now on, she is to receive palliative care only. They, in turn, have told us that they think it is likely that another crisis will occur sometime over the next day or so, for victims of massive strokes often have such complications.

So, for now, we wait.