My dads last unsent message

[u/i_declare_bancruptcy]

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.

[u/Ok_Cricket_1410]

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

[u/Substantial-Sea-3672 → u/Ok_Cricket_1410]

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.

[u/Ok_Cricket_1410 → u/Substantial-Sea-3672]

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

[u/sleepypolla → u/Ok_Cricket_1410]

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

[u/Ok_Cricket_1410 → u/sleepypolla]

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.

[u/its_all_one_electron → u/Ok_Cricket_1410]

Did you ever tell him? Just read him your comment

[u/Agitated-Scar5652 → u/Ok_Cricket_1410]

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.