I went in to see Isobel today just before five o'clock. The nurses said that there had not been much change but they were using a pillow to slightly elevate the right arm and ensure it did not lie below the body.

Isobel was asleep when I arrived and I decided to wake her by gently manipulating and lifting her right arm. I did this for a few minutes without any problems, the shoulder and elbow were completely free, just a bit of stiffness in the wrist. When I moved onto the hand it was clear that as well as stiffness (the fingers are curled into a sort of claw configuration) it is uncomfortable for Isobel to have the fingers straightened. There was not much of a problem with the thumb, third and fourth fingers. The index and second fingers were a different matter and Isobel woke fully as I attempted to gently manipulate them. Straightening the index finger only took a few seconds, but the second finger needed several progressive attempts with rests in between. Isobel confirmed that the only really bad pain was from the second finger but she was prepared for me to have a final attempt - she was not able to move the fingers at all herself apart from a slight movement of the thumb. I was not quite able to fully straighten the second finger but it was very close. The swelling of the arm itself seems to have decreased - but there does not seem to be any logic to how it varies. There is a little more freedom of movement in the neck. Isobel confirmed that apart from the right arm and neck she did not have any pain and when lying still was not in any discomfort at all.

I read a few more pages from Isobel's book to her. Isobel had eaten all her lunch of fish and chips followed by rice pudding. I fed her tea consisting of ham omelette followed by arctic roll and cream. Then we watched "Eggheads" and chatted while Isobel ate two biscuits and the last of the old grapes and finished a beaker of fruit juice. I manipulated her arm again for a few minutes (but felt she had put up with enough already from the fingers).

I then read some more of her book to her while she ate a banana and a few of a new bunch of grapes and drunk a beaker of water. Isobel's speech was once again rather restricted and tended to be inaudible at times, although as usual she would speak louder when asked. She was rather tired by the time I left at a quarter past seven and I suspect she was soon asleep.