Visual mediation of critical illness: an autobiographical account of nearly dying and nearly living

This article is concerned with the portrayal of the impact of critical illness on the author's life. An autobiographical approach is used to illustrate how imagery mediates personal trauma. A personal journey over a four-year period, from the onset of illness towards recovery, is portrayed in the form of snapshots of critical events. Running parallel to the visual dimension is the application of mountain climbing as a metaphor for first understanding critical illness and then as a vehicle to aid recuperation. The journey is described in a narrative style that represents one reality.