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Most of us have probably, at some angst-ridden point in our teenage years, told our parents that we wished they were dead; however saying we wished they were dead and actually wishing it were true are two different things altogether. In any case, my question is directed more at people who have left their teen years behind.

My mother had an explosive brain haemorrhage on December 5th 1997 - I remember it vividly. She recovered reasonably well and apart from vastly reduced stamina and a sensitivity to loud noises you’d hardly notice any change. Then in October 2003 she had a seizure - the doctors told us she had developed epilepsy as a result of the brain haemorrhage - the seizure also left her with a permanent headache which, although it varied in intensity, it never left.

In the last two years she has had more seizures and the constant headache has drained her markedly.

Just over two weeks ago she developed a kidney infection unbeknownst to her - this triggered a massive seizure during which she aspirated vomit and blood. The seizure put so much pressure on her heart that she had a heart attack and the aspirated blood and vomit caused a lung infection.

She was placed on antibiotics and these brought about a throat infection.

Last Sunday, in the hospital, as she was hoping to go home, she suffered a stroke. The stroke has left her very debilitated. She has lost the vision in her left eye, the use of her left arm, and her ability to swallow - so she needs to be fed by tube.

She is now spending most of her time in the hospital in a deep sleep/unconscious, waking only when roused and then barely able to make herself understood.

I realise that she may recover a lot of her faculties, in time, but if it is only to bring her back to the point where she was - i.e. prone to seizures and with a chronic severe headache, is that any kind of life to wish on her? Some might say that it is better than the alternative, I’m not so sure.