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Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients and family members (n = 18) postdischarge to examine how they managed their recovery in the year following a child's intensive care unit admission. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory. Participants described an ongoing need to develop and adapt their narratives about admission and recovery. Other key themes were as follows: just getting through, recognizing they had changed, striving for normality, and finding positive aspects related to their experiences. It took longer than they expected for families to build a coherent narrative of events postdischarge and to adjust to the “new normal.” Implications for health professionals are discussed.

Summary Paediatric intensive care has a significant impact on the children and families who experience it. This effect continues post-discharge as the family attempt to recover from their ordeal. This article begins with an exploration of what makes a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission potentially so traumatising and then examines current models for recovery which exist in the literature. These remain sparse and do not provide a coherent model for recovery after PICU. This paper therefore presents research which aimed to develop a model to understand the recovery journey for families. Children who had been PICU patients and their parents were interviewed and the transcripts analysed using grounded theory. Participants highlighted the importance of physical, psychological and social recovery and these have been integrated into a biopsychosocial model of recovery. Finding and accepting a ‘new normal’ were the culmination of this biopsychosocial journey. This paper concludes that an integrated approach to recovery is necessary and makes some recommendations for further research and clinical practice. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.