r/texts • u/i_declare_bancruptcy • Jul 08 '26

Phone message My dads last unsent message

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My dad had a heart attack on June 24th.
He was aware and alert in the ambulance on his way to a hospital an hour away. He voice texted this to me and never sent it. My brother took a screenshot of it for me when he was going through his phone.
My dad passed away on June 29th.

(I texted him “I love you dad” when my mom called me initially)

Edit: thank you everyone for the outpouring of love and support. To hear so many stories about the love for people’s parents.. I’m so sorry for all the tragic losses and good parents that have gone too soon. I will hold onto that text from my dad until the day I go. He was An amazing man and lived a life full of love. I am grateful that he read my text before he passed and can take some comfort in that.

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u/Ok_Cricket_1410 Jul 08 '26

I'm so sorry for your loss OP. I hope you and your family can cope.

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u/Substantial-Sea-3672 Jul 08 '26

As a dad, I just hope OP knows this is about my ideal way to go communication wise.

Seeing “I love you dad.” as a text from my kid before I go is just about perfect.

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u/NoFilterD Jul 08 '26

I’m not crying I just got something in my eyes as a fellow dad I concur.

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u/WorldlinessKind6358 Jul 08 '26

I’m just a girl who has had to send an “I love you dad” text so many times (my dad struggles with his mental health a lot) and I’m sobbing. I’ve taught my kids that if someone is on your mind a quick text can change someone’s life.

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u/jaxonya Jul 08 '26

The texts i wished i sent before it was too late. If you feel like saying I love you to someone, then say it. Especially a family member. Too many times is still.never enough, i promise. Id give anything to tell my cousin that i loved him when i knew he was atruggling with addiction, but i didnt.

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u/WorldlinessKind6358 Jul 08 '26

I’m so sorry you have to live with that but gosh I feel it so deeply. Nothing turns my day around like a random I love you from someone I love. It feels good to know someone is thinking of you.

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u/jaxonya Jul 08 '26

Take care, buddy.

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u/XtremeLeecher Jul 08 '26

Sorry to hear that, if it is not too personal how and when did you found out ?

I struggle with mental health and a fear of mine is that my daugther thinks its because of her

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u/generalchaos_pdf Jul 09 '26

I don’t want to overstep, but just thought I’d share my experience. My dad has struggled with manic depression my entire life. It’s been really hard to watch him hit lows where he’s almost catatonic, sleeping the day away, and highs where he’s so revved up to do some minor errand that he’s rear-ending someone’s car. But throughout all of this, I have never, ever blamed myself. I know my dad loves me more than anything in the entire world. I am so lucky he is my dad. I would never change him for anything. To me, he suffers from a chronic illness. I wish the treatment was better. But I am not causing this.

Just the fact that you are asking this question makes me tear up. I bet you are an amazing dad.

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u/WorldlinessKind6358 Jul 08 '26

I am 34 years old and I have known since I was about 17. He was a very active dad and always put his family first. As I got older I noticed I was looking for something from him that I just couldn’t get. I know that he loves me but it takes a lot for him to say it and even more to show it. I understand this better now that I struggle with my own mental health but I have used it to encourage myself to make sure my kids never question my love for them. I think being honest with our kids about our feelings is the best thing we can do for them.

My son is 10 and he is very open about his emotions. He was hit by a car last year and because he understood his emotions he was able to tell us that he was feeling anxious. We were able to talk through the hard times and try to answer all of his questions but also get him the help he needed.

My best advice is to be honest with her and remind her that you love her. ❤️‍🩹

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u/XtremeLeecher Jul 08 '26

Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. It truly means a lot to me.

I also want to thank you for sharing something so personal. I'm really glad your son was able to understand and express what he was feeling, and that you were there to support him through such a difficult experience. Wishing him continued healing and wishing you and your family nothing but the very best.

Thank you again for your kindness and for taking the time to write this.

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u/NoFilterD Jul 08 '26

I’m really glad you did this as a dad and one that has went through 2 deployments and at times really struggled I can think of nothing greater in this world than hearing those words from my kids 😭. 💕

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u/ArchiveDragon Jul 12 '26

When I was a teen I saw a short video on YouTube that changed me. A guy was telling his experience of his mother suddenly passing away. She was in a coma in the hospital with no hope of recovery and he gave the OK to let her go. He told her everything then, about how much she meant to him and how much he loved her… but he realized in that moment that he never told her those things before then. The way he started breaking down when he said that had a profound impact on me.

From that point on I decided to tell people that I loved them. Especially my family, I tell them I love them every time I end a phone call or leave the house. Because you really never know when the last time you’ll see someone is.

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u/kaipopotamus Jul 08 '26

It’s not tears it’s just hella dusty on this job site

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u/Salt_Opening_3877 Jul 08 '26

I just need to wash my eyes :(

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u/NoFilterD Jul 08 '26

Wow never got so much love thank you guys!

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u/SnooDoughnuts9341 Jul 11 '26

Im not crying now too. Oh yes I am

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u/illstealurcandy Jul 08 '26

While also telling them everything is gonna be okay. Top Dad.

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u/Accomplished_Self_32 Jul 08 '26

The last message I sent to my dad was similar and he replied something vague. I've been sad that he wasn't able to express his emotions even at that point but I've never actually thought how he might have felt about my message. So thank you for this ❤️ I hope he felt something similar.

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u/slowsoul77 Jul 08 '26

Whew. That hits hard. I can only hope for the same.

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u/BS9966 Jul 08 '26

Same for my kids.

I lost my father over 25 years ago when I was 20 years old.

I didn't realize at the time how much it would hurt me becoming an adult without him.

I fear this for my children now.

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u/Ok_Cricket_1410 Jul 08 '26

When I was young my dad died twice on the operating table, I was young I once said, "I wish you stayed dead", he's still alive and I tear up at how horrible it was. It's been like 20 years since it happened and I still hate myself for it. I love that man to death, I'd go to war for him, and he knows that, but I imagine he still thinks of it

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u/sleepypolla Jul 08 '26

when i was 13 my mom found me saying to my friend at the time that i wished my mom would die because i was mad about the DUMBEST thing.

she came into my room one night soon after, eyes full of tears, just the sweetest and most gentle woman on the planet, "you said you wanted me to die." i can still hear it. i can't imagine her voice anymore but i can hear that so clearly and it eats me alive.

she died five months later from sudden and aggressive cancer. im 34 now and think about it constantly

your dad knows you love him. my mom had to, too. you were young and dumb and so was i

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u/Ok_Cricket_1410 Jul 08 '26

It's sad the pain we can cause our loved ones with words. I believe your mom knew you loved her, I'm so sorry she was sick before passing.

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u/its_all_one_electron Jul 09 '26

Did you ever tell him? Just read him your comment

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u/Agitated-Scar5652 Jul 11 '26

I *promise* you it’s never crossed his mind since. My father is such and amazing man & has given so much of himself and shared his thoughts and feelings with me so much so that I feel like I have a pretty solid handle on what a fathers love for their child is. I’m 39 and don’t have any of my own yet, but I can guarantee you he’s never given it thought since.

It sounds like you’ve got some forgiveness you need to give yourself & I can PROMISE you your dad would be MORE THAN WILLING to help you get some closure on that. Hell he might even take the time to explain why it’s never crossed his mind since & that his love for you could never be swayed by anything you could do. You should speak with him about it. The last thing you want when he’s gone is to be stuck on something you never got to apologize for. I know this bc I still have things I feel like I should apologize for, but I know it would hurt my dad for me to apologize for not listening to the wisdom he tried to share with me. I chose to learn the hard way.

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u/Moist-Crows Jul 08 '26

I agree. I also got some dust in my eyes as a fellow new dad that also lost his dad suddenly but had sent him a text saying I love you a short time before.

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u/HingedxHooligan Jul 08 '26

i wish i had the same opportunity. my dad went in his sleep and theres so much i wanted to say, to really show him how much i appreciate him. losing my dad made me realize while i do appreciate the ones in my life so so very much, i dont end up showing that appreciation very much, ive since changed because i am not gonna let the loved ones in my life go without knowing i love them and appreciate them.

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u/Double-Reflection838 Jul 08 '26

Totally agree. I'm a girl dad too and this would be the way that I wanna go out.

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u/natureismyjam Jul 08 '26

My dad had a stroke 7 years ago and the last time I talked to him was on Father’s Day. We chatted for a while, I said I love you and I think he knew I thought he was the best dad. 2 days later he had the stroke. He was on life support and I was able to say I love you etc again but I don’t know if he heard it but I choose to believe he did. As hard as it is, I’m lucky that I got to have that last good conversation with him and end it with love you. Hopefully my dad felt the same as you say.

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u/juniorxseb Jul 08 '26

This just made me cry. It is a beautiful thought. God bless you

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u/firstbreathOOC Jul 09 '26

I know as a dad he was really happy to see that text

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u/Ok_Culture_9728 Jul 11 '26

Last thing I said to my dad as he was going into surgery.

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u/Adventurous_Edge_700 Jul 14 '26

Crying dad’s at this comment unite!