Update

The news here isn't terribly positive.

I haven't posted for a week simply because we haven't been able to visit Edna and have been relying on the reports from the nursing staff on Ward 16, who have been terrific. The Ward is closed due to what the staff refer to as "D&V", the bug which is doing the rounds of the whole of the UK right now it seems. We have taken their advice to stay away, not wanting to spread the thing further and allowing them to get on with their job of keeping their ladies safe and sound.

Edna seems to have been in steady decline during the last few days and our optimism for the future is waning. She is now on oxygen, has not regained her swallow so is being fed by tube and is not as responsive as we might have hoped. The nursing staff are reassuring, patient, honest and don't mind how often we telephone for news. They tell us that she is comfortable, peaceful and is sleeping most of the time.

Our feelings are confused. Of course, the enforced relief of not driving 400 miles every few days has meant that we feel more on top of things here and better able to manage our routine responsibilities but at the same time, the constant worry of not being able to be with Mummy at such a desperate time for her is draining to say the least.

It looks like the phone call we dread could come at any time and we are reluctant to think beyond the next day or two.