Objectives: To describe and interpret the family adaptation during the ICU hospitalisation andup to 18 months after discharge.Research methodology/design: A qualitative design was chosen.Main outcome measures: Individual and family interviews with eight families including 31 familymembers. A hermeneutical analysis was performed and paradigm cases were constructed.Results: The result is presented in three themes: striving for endurance, striving for consolationand striving to rebuild life under new conditions. The family adaptation started at the onset ofthe critical incident and continued during the ICU stay and after discharge. The family membersmetaphorically went through peaks and valleys during the whole process of adaptation.Conclusion: Adaptation is an issue for the whole family and is facilitated by being able to stayclose to the patient and receive supportive unambiguous information from the staff both duringthe ICU stay and after discharge.