In 2015, a woman from Arkansas was forced to deal with the profound grief of losing her father. To cope with the pain, she started sending text messages to her late dad's number, sharing her everyday events as if he was still alive.
Exactly four years after her dad's passing, the woman was baffled when she received an answer to her texts. In a surprising turn of events, fate has decided to collide her struggle with the pain and grief of another human being. Find out exactly what happened up next!
Have You Ever Tried To Communicate With The Dead?
Talking to the dead doesn't seem like a very reasonable way of dealing with grief. But it's something human beings have been doing for as long as they can remember. Nowadays, with technology playing a major role in the way we relate to each other, it's normal to use modern forms of communication for coping.
In the Japanese town of Otsuchi, for instance, a call box was installed following the passage of a deadly tsunami, and people started using it to talk with their late relatives. There's nothing wrong with being irrational in a moment of great emotional pain.
It's Time You Met Chastity Patterson
Chastity Patterson is just another regular American girl. She's a college graduate from Newport, Arkansas, and she likes to spend time together with her boyfriend and hang out with friends. Just like any other young woman, she enjoys having fun and posting pictures on Instagram.
But there's something different about Chastity. Earlier this year, she got involved in a peculiar happening that would turn out to be one of two things: either an incredible coincidence or a fate-driven circumstance of cosmic proportions! It all started in 2015, back when she was trying to deal with the pain of losing her father...
She Dealt With Grief By Texting Her Father's Old Number
Losing someone that used to be important in your life is a painful experience that's unlike no other. That's why Chastity has decided to start texting her father as a way of coping with the loss. Sometimes, all you need is to be heard to ease the suffering.
Texting the dead is actually very common, despite its strangeness. As people get more and more attached to their phones, few things can make your gone loved-ones more present than texting their old numbers. Right now, AI researchers are even developing grief bots to help people cope with the pain of losing someone important.
Letting Dad Know About Everything
For a child, losing a fatherly figure can change everything. You grow up so used to having someone you can rely on and will love you unconditionally, but suddenly... it's all gone! The worst part is that your late father or mother will not be able to be there with you during the important moments.
That's why Chastity made an effort to send a message to her late dad after every major occasion in her life. Following her graduation from college, Chastity 'informed' her late father about it, and that has made her feel as though he was still around.
Cancer And Heartbreak Struck Her Life Unexpectedly
Parents are certainly missed during good times. But can we even make it without them during the bad times? Since losing her dad, Chastity struggled with some personal issues. She was diagnosed with cancer and had to overcome heartbreak.
Chastity relied on her emotional text messages and her strong belief that her father was watching for her. These made her come through both issues. Sure, everyone can recover from a failed relationship, but beating cancer? That takes something special, and something very special indeed was about to happen in Charity's life.
Waiting For An Answer
For four years, Chastity was texting her late father while simultaneously filled with feelings of grief and hope. Part of her knew that an answer was impossible, but there was a belief in her heart that made her continue sending messages.
Call it destiny, or coincidence, but one day she heard her phone ring, and she could not believe it! Right there, she saw a new message, and it came from the number she had been texting for four straight years. We cannot imagine how she must have felt at that moment, but we know for sure she will never forget it!
Receiving A Reply That's Filled With Love
This is the message that Chastity Patterson received from her late father's old number. A man named Brad was struggling with the grief of having lost a loved one himself. His daughter died in 2014, following a car wreck, and he was secretly receiving Chastity's messages.
Brad's message is a tearjerker in and of itself, but it's also filled with love. Even if this is not an answer coming directly from Chastity's late dad—that would have been impossible—it sure feels like it! The hopeful text depicted above is more than a deserved reward for Chastity's four-year struggle with grief.
Destiny Playing Its Tricks
Chastity's story is truly remarkable, especially if you consider the odds! Her old dad's number was not only assigned to someone else, but it was assigned to a man that was going through the same issues she was facing! Someone that patiently read Chastity's messages during those four years before revealing his identity.
Even if you don't believe in destiny, you have to give it a break in this one. A daughter without a father and a father without a daughter unknowingly helping each other through the sheer act of a text message exchange? That's the kind of stuff you only read about in novels.
Finding Hope In Each Other
At this point, little is known about Brad, the man who was reading Chastity's messages for years before he finally revealed his identity. However, it's easy to see that he was trying to cope with his own loss. After receiving Chastity's texts, we can say that he was gifted with newfound hope, as well.
Chastity wasn't the only one trying to ease the pain, and she was inadvertently helping a stranger overcome his own emotional issues. It's hard to say just how important Chastity's texts were to Brad, but we have a lot of sympathy for his situation.
Closure In The Words Of A Stranger
Brad is just a stranger who happened to have the same number as Chastity's late dad. But after receiving and reading Chastity's daily updates, he probably knew more about her than some of her closest friends. In his reply, he explained how the messages have helped him stop blaming himself about her own daughter's death.
Brad believed that the correspondence he was exchanging with Chastity was inspired by God. He was kind enough to let Chastity know he was proud of her and how she was helping him. At that moment, Chastity might have finally found closure in the words of a stranger.
The Timing Couldn't Have Been More Perfect!
Brad's kindness isn't the only remarkable quality about him. He has also proven that he has an impeccable sense of timing. His text message, the very first in four years, was sent on the death anniversary of Chastity's father. This just adds up to both the emotional personal drama and rarity of this story!
Sometimes reality is hard to believe, but it is nonetheless real, and Chastity's story was just too good to remain unknown to the public. It didn't take long for this remarkable series of events to start making waves on social media...
A Story That Went Viral
In October 2019, Chastity decided to share her unbelievable experience on Social Media with a Facebook post. Her profile was immediately filled with messages of love, sadness, and astonishment coming from close friends and family. But Chastity's story went way past her small inner circle...
With over 20,000 comments and close to 300,000 shares, Chastity's post became viral in less than a week. Suddenly, everyone was talking about it! Her story was quickly published in multiple newspapers and websites all over the Internet, inspiring many people struggling with grief.
The Bountiful Feedback
For Chastity, publicly sharing her unbelievable story must have taken some guts. In a matter as sensitive as grief, it can be hard to simply open your emotions to the unpredictable world of the Internet. As we all know, strangers commenting online can be extremely ruthless.
However, Chastity has been mostly graced with helpful and empowering messages. She now has a lot to smile about, as her life has reached a remarkably positive period. Nothing is stopping Chastity now, and her story was even shared by a couple of notable personalities on Twitter.
Notable Personalities Were Touched By This Tale
Not even public figures felt indifferent after hearing about this unique encounter among two strangers. The ABC News journalist and former CBS news anchor Muhammad Lila posted a picture of the messages on Twitter. They even included a very appropriate caption, advising the readers to get their Kleenex out.
Philanthropic leader and Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur Minh Ngo has also published the messages on his account. In response, she received a lot of comments from crying fans who were struggling to hold their emotions. The story became so popular because it isn't only mind-blowing; it is also extremely relatable.
An Unexpected Twist
After becoming essentially famous in less than a week, Chastity Patterson decided to come clean and tell the truth about her father's true identity. As it turns out, Chastity's biological father is still alive and well. The messages were not directed at her real dad, but at a man who she views as a fatherly figure.
His name was Jason Ligons, and he was a well-known figure in the city of Newport, Arkansas. Chastity considered him to be one of the most important influences on her life, and she even referred to him as 'dad'.
Who Was Jason Ligons?
Jason Ligons was an important figure for many kids in Newport, not only Chastity. After all, he was the owner and operator of the US 67 Skating Rink, certainly one of the most kid-friendly places around.
According to his obituary, he enjoyed grilling out and cooking for friends, and his favorite American football team was the Chicago Bears. He passed away on October 25, 2015, leaving a wife and brother behind, as well as a bunch of kids that were used to seeing him as a fatherly figure, just like Charity.
A Good Influence For Kids
There's a reason why Jason was so important to Chastity even though they weren't blood-related. When Chastity was in 6th grade, Jason introduced her to his friends as his 'daughter'. And he acted as if she was, never missing a school dance, prom, or game.
Jason was also keen on giving Chastity lectures about her manners and attitude. But aside from her, he was there for all the children, giving them rides, advice, and hosting their birthday parties on the US 67 Skating Rink. However, he passed away without having the chance to have children of his own.
Tragedy Struck Him Out Of The Blue
Jason Ligons died in a one-vehicle crash on Highway 17, in a section of the road known as Pecan Street. It happened on a Sunday, at 11:30 p.m., with Jason being the only victim. According to the Arkansas State Police, the car Jason was driving went into a ditch and struck a tree. The cause of the accident is still unknown.
Four years after his unfortunate demise, the do-good skating rink owner is finally getting the praise he deserved. He's being honored all over the Internet ever since the unbelievable story of Chastity got out. Rest in peace, Jason!
What's Next For Chastity?
Jason's name will forever be remembered, and his life story is now viral. It's all thanks to his kindness and to the love he spread while he was alive. As for Chastity, she's still a young woman with a bright future ahead of her. She's now all set to take life by the horns as she's finally found closure.
At the moment, Chastity is probably very busy dealing with all the nice comments that have surfaced online. But she has revealed in her messages that she wants to have children of her own. Well, this might just be the perfect time for her to start thinking about raising a family.
Discussions On Who's Walking Who Down The Aisle
In one of her messages, Chastity confessed that she wanted Jason to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. That's no longer possible, but he will for sure be commemorated on such a special occasion.
But now, who will walk Chastity down the aisle? Comments all over the Internet have suggested that Brad should be the one to replace Jason when that day comes. It could be the perfect ending for such a remarkable story! Although, let's not forget that Brad is still a fairly unknown character, and only a few things are known about him...
Chastity and Brad Should Definitely Meet First!
Internet commentators can have a genuine talent for exaggerating things. But while it's probably too soon to suggest that Brad should walk Chastity down the aisle, we believe it's only reasonable to expect the two to meet. After all, they were the major players in one of the most unbelievable stories we have ever heard!
A meeting can be hard to arrange since Brad seems to be a very private and sensitive person. For now, it would be great to learn something more about him—other than his first name. One thing's for sure, though: a meeting between Chastity and Brad would certainly make a fuss on social media!
There Are Others Out There
Astonishingly, Chastity wasn't the first person to find herself in this sort of situation. Ruth Murray, a woman from Minneapolis, texted her dead brother for 6 months before receiving a reply from a stranger. The answer came from Amber Leinweber, a Wisconsin girl who eventually helped Ruth to cope with the pain by sending her encouraging messages.
Alison Rundle, a Durham mother who lost her 25-year-old daughter almost 10 years ago, is still sending her voice messages to ease the grief. A widow from Texas named Jaclyn Schwartz continues to pay for her late husband's phone bills, even though he passed away in 2017 due to organ failure.
Ways Of Surpassing Grief
According to the National Health Service (NHS), different people deal with grief in different ways. Common feelings include anxiety, helplessness, anger, and sadness. NHS suggests that the best way to deal with loss is by expressing yourself, keeping your routine, and allowing yourself to feel sad.
Other methods, like texting or talking to your late family member or friend, can be extremely advisable, as shown in Chastity's remarkable story. In case you're dealing with this kind of pain, don't be afraid to find comfort in a system that allows you to feel better. It doesn't matter if it's irrational or unconventional.
Restoring Happiness
After a long struggle that lasted for years, Chastity is finally ready to move on. Her life was shaken forever on the tragic October night that took away the man she considered to be her father. But now, destiny has given Chastity a lot of reasons to hope for a better future.
Jason Ligons will never be able to come back. But now, he will always be remembered for the good he has done and not for the pain caused by his absence. Wherever he is, we're sure he's extremely proud of Chastity's achievements and braveness.
Chastity Is An Inspiration To Others Going Through The Same Struggles
Chastity's story is not only impressive, but it's also inspiring. If you're dealing with the loss of someone you love, you will understand just how important Chastity's experience is. She has truly inspired others who are going through the same difficulties.
In a time where kindness and understanding can sometimes be lacking, the general response to Chastity's Facebook post has been great so far. Humanity can have its flaws, but there's something magical about the way people were touched by this story. With kindness and love, even the worst feeling in the world can turn out into something good.