Woman thought her estranged dad had been dead for years — a phone call from 2,000 miles away brought her to his deathbed
It can be equally hard and surprising to know that something that you have believed in all your life isn't actually true. A woman thought that her estranged biological father had been dead for a long time. But one day, she got a call from a hospital that her father was on his deathbed, 46 years after he had left home. The woman immediately went to Nevada from Florida to see her dad, who immediately seemed to recognize her. The daughter, Melissa Largen (@melissalargen on TikTok), took to the platform to share her story.
"A doctor called me saying that my estranged father was near death. I flew to Nevada the very next day. I have not known where he was in over 20 years," the woman shared. The woman went in and introduced herself. As she did that, recognition flashed upon the man's face and he seemed happy to see his daughter. The person, David, had a severe car accident when he was in his 20s and his daughter was just a baby. He ended up suffering a brain injury that left him mentally and physically disabled and his family gave him up to the state. "Yet he's aware he has a daughter." The man had been passed on from facility to facility for the past 46 years and had given up on life. He even refused to eat until he saw his daughter that day.
@melissalargen Reunited with my father. Please help me get him to Florida to be with my family. He has suffered 46 years alone it's time he is near loved ones. Many thanks to those who share and support. Link is in my bio.#reunited #father #hospice #tbi #tbisurvivor ♬ take a moment to breathe. - normal the kid
"Once he saw me, he wanted to live again. I want to bring him from Nevada to be with my family in Florida, giving him the love he never received," Largen expressed. The daughter ended up starting a GoFundMe to help take her dad back home and to provide him with medical supplies. In another video, the woman revealed that her parents had been divorced before her dad's accident. She learned that her dad was even homeless at one point after being at several facilities. "For my entire life, it was very difficult to find my dad. He was always a mystery and just a story told very shortly by my mother," Largen highlighted.
On October 28, 2024, the woman got a call from a doctor at Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas. The doctor wanted to inform her that her father hadn't eaten in two weeks and had refused all assistance. He kept getting better after he saw his daughter but the woman was convinced that she had to bring her dad back to Florida where he could be surrounded by people who loved him. The woman ended up bringing her father back home. But their reunion was short-lived as he died 11 days after the relocation, as per PEOPLE. Still, the family still got to spend a crucial amount of time together.
People took to the comments section to support the woman. @glriv28 wrote, "His parents failed him. You just healed so many years of pain in his heart. God bless you both." @brydz05 commented, "Poor darling was neglected. No wonder he was giving up. As a nurse, this hurts my heart. Abandoned by his own family. And mistreated in care. Bless that doctor who found you." @jessica.elenanz remarked, "I am so sorry he went through this. Your story has reached Australia! What an amazing daughter you are. Never stop fighting for him."
@melissalargen I was able to get the GoFundMe link on my profile. My Venmo is @Melissa-Gehrig-1 I am so grateful for all the likes, shares, and follows as it helps spread the story. #tbisurvivor #moveDavidtoFlorida #father #hospice @The Gaming Dad ♬ original sound - L E N A
You can follow Melissa Largen (@melissalargen) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.