PAULINE Edwards and Haydn Welch survived lengthy spells in intensive care units - and through a new support group they are helping others who have made the same journey.

Their lives hanging in the balance, both spent several weeks dependent on expert one-to-one care.

But, as with many in their position, recovery continued long after leaving intensive care and finally leaving hospital for home.

Physical recovery however, has been only part of the return to wellbeing. Psychological recovery has been vital too, often involving coping with having little or no memory of intensive care.

And where memories exist, they are often blurred or confused, with reality, dream or hallucination difficult to define.

Mrs Edwards, 62, from Caldicot, and Mr Welch, 76, who lives in Pontllanfraith, are members of the Newport group of ICUsteps (Intensive Care Unit Support Teams for Ex-Patients) set up by former patients, relatives and staff. The Newport and Abergavenny groups are the only ones in Wales.

Both got involved as a follow-up to the patients' diaries project at the Royal Gwent Hospital's critical care unit.

The project is designed to help patients, who often spend several weeks unconscious, fill in the memory gaps that can add to the psychological burden triggered by serious illness or injury.

A nurse-led project, consultants, therapists and family and friends are also encouraged to make entries regularly to provide the patient with an informal record of their care and progress.

For Mrs Edwards, the diary helped fill in the missing two weeks of her stay in intensive care at the Royal Gwent three years ago after she was struck by a life-threatening virus.

"I was in intensive care for six weeks in all, including four at the Heath (University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff), and I don't remember anything," she said.

"I only know of the two weeks in the Royal Gwent from my diary. But my time in intensive care at the Heath is like a black hole because they don't do diaries there."

It is thought that Mrs Edwards, a former human resources adviser for the Post Office and Royal Mail, picked up the virus in her garden, or from an animal scratch. While at the Royal Gwent it reached her heart and damaged valves, triggering a transfer to Cardiff for lifesaving surgery.

On several occasions her family were told to prepare for the worst, as she suffered kidney failure and fours mini-strokes. Recovery has been a long process, and Mrs Edwards is now determined to help others through ICUsteps Newport.

"I'd picked up my diary and Tracey (Rich, nursing sister on the Royal Gwent’s critical care unit) got in touch and floated the idea of a support group.

"It's great idea and I want to give something back, because you can feel very overwhelmed and isolated afterwards, and also because the intensive care staff do an amazing job."

Mrs Edwards and Mr Welch admit to periods of despair during their recoveries. Mr Welch said he also felt "incredibly vulnerable."

The former engineer, teacher and external examiner remembers parts of his stay in intensive care - six of 12 weeks in hospital after developing the flesh-eating bug necrotising fasciitis in what he thought was a cyst on his back.

Like Mrs Edwards and many others, he also experienced recurring and vivid hallucinations.

"I was very fortunate to have great family support, but it is a frightening and incredibly vulnerable time," he said.

"For me, the most terrifying part was the inability to speak. And when you begin to recover it is like having to learn to do everything from scratch.

"I hope the group helps people feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel

"Several of us have had the opportunity to recount our experiences to trainee doctors and nurses too, so they can get a patient's perspective."

* ICUsteps Newport (www.icusteps.org/support/newport) meets in the chapel at St Woolos Hospital, Stow Hill, Newport. The next meetings are on Tuesday June 30 and Tuesday August 4, both 6.30pm-8pm.

ICUsteps Abergavenny (www.icusteps.org/support/abergavenny) meets at the St. Michael's Centre, Pen-y-pound, Abergavenny. Its next meeting is on Monday July 6, 6pm-8pm.