Thanks Pat, to update, it now appears that my mum has had a stroke. She's not distressed or in any pain, so I guess that's good news. It's too early for the doctors to give any prognosis so we wait and see. My visitor's visa runs out on October 6th and we (I have my younger daughter here with me,) are booked to fly back home on October 4th. Not too sure what is going to happen about that now. Growing old is certainly not for sissies!