Background: There are currently 2700 adults living with home ventilator (HMV) in Sweden. These patients have complex needs of caring in life. To live with HMV can change life both physically, mentally, social and existential. It is therefore important for nurses to have knowledge to support those patients. Aim: The aim of the study was to elucidate patients experience living with a home ventilator. Method: A literature based method, with a qualitative focus. The articles were analysed using the Friberg method of analysis. Result: The result is presented in two main themes and four subthemes. The first main theme is about how the patient´s life changes, When life changes, whilst the second main theme is about that their life goes on, When life goes on. In the subthemes for the theme life changes, the patients experience is compared to going out to sea in a stormy weather with feelings of fear and having no control and further on to control their one ship and get back control in life. The subthemes for the theme life goes on shows that the patients are experiencing mixed emotions both feeling free and in captivity and feeling healthy despite illness. Conclusion: Both positive and negative experiences in their entire life situation are shown in the results. Those different experiences contributes to a deeper knowledge and understanding for nurses and give them and better chance to give the best care for this patients.