When my dad had his stroke he became someone else to a certain extent. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to who he was and over many months we all learned who he had become – dad included.

He was independent now he is happy to be institutionalised (to a certain extent – he doesn’t want to go into hospital or a care home for occasional respite and has a token protest when we visit him but is happy for others to run and fetch for him).

He was strong and stubborn now he is bloody minded and sometimes very selfish.

He was a responsible man now he has tantrums like a 2 year old (well I think I’d be frustrated too if I had his life).

There are many other things that haven’t changed dramatically and some that are the same. He looks more or less the same, sounds pretty much like he did but there’s certainly something gone from him.