The young daughter considers this a sign to finally let her father rest in peace.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on February 7, 2020. It has since been updated.
No one has quite learned how to deal with the loss of one's parents. While many of us resort to various coping up mechanisms that would make us believe that they are still there, some just can't come to terms with the fact that they have to spend their entire lives without their strongest supporters. This story is about a young woman who lost her father, but still kept texting on his phone number to let him know about her daily life. But what changed her life is a reply from the same number, after 4 years.
Chastity Patterson, 23, texted her father's old phone number every day after she lost him 4 years ago. A night before his 4th death anniversary she sent him a long message starting with "Hey Dad, it's ME. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day again!" reports The Sun.
In her long message, she wrote about everything; including graduating from college and beating cancer, not expecting any response. But what happened next gave her the shock of her life. That day she received a reply from the same number which changed her life forever.
The message was sent by Brad, who has lost his own daughter in a car crash 5 years ago. His message was not only emotional, but it also helped Patterson receive closure.
"Hi sweetheart, I am not your father, but I have been getting all your messages for the past four years. I look forward to your morning messages and your nightly updates. My name is Brad and I lost my daughter in a car wreck August 2014 and your messages kept me alive. When you text me, I know it's a message from God,' Brad said.
"I'm sorry you lost someone so close to you, but I have listened to you over the years and I have watched you grow and go through more than anyone. I have wanted to text you back for years, but I didn't want to break your heart," he said.
He not only praised her for whatever she has gone through but also told her that she is the angel who had kept him alive for all these years because he was bereaved by his daughter's death too.
"You are an extraordinary woman and I wish my daughter would have become the woman you are, thank you for your everyday updates, you remind me that there is a God and it wasn't his fault that my little girl is gone," he said.
"He gave me you, my little angel and I knew this day was coming. Everything will be okay, you to push yourself every day and shine the light God gave you. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but if it makes it any better, I am very proud of you."
Patterson was shocked and emotional to see that her love for her father has in fact been reciprocated. She shared her story on Facebook and it went viral in no time, racking up over 265,000 shares, reports Mail Online.
She captioned her post: "I text my dad everyday to let him know how my day goes, for the past Four years! Today was my sign that everything is okay and I can let him rest!"
After she was showered with love and support she shared that Jason Ligons was not her biological father but a father figure who had raised her from childhood and took care of her at every single step of her life.
"He never missed a school dance, prom, my games and YES he would give me long talks about my mouth and attitude. I had to introduce my boyfriends to him (If I was allowed to date) and he would act like a normal dad and give us the long talk," she said.
"I've cried with him, told him everything and even became very independent because he took the time to love me and show me what happiness looks like. SO YES Jason was my father but he was a role model for many kids in our town," she added.
"I shared my messages for my friends and family to see that there is a God and it might take 4 years, but he shows up right on time!" she said.
References:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10224135/woman-texted-dead-dad-four-years-grieving-father-reply/
