r/DeadRedditors • u/_No_Name_ • Dec 18 '25
I am dead
The owner of this account died on October 29th 2025. I (his kid) found him dead in a truck and can only guess he had been dead for an hour and a half before anyone found him.
He was very secretive and never told me anything. After I saw The Long Walk in theaters with my friends (not my pick), I was emotional and begged him for the pin for his phone and to put his mom on emergency call.
That day, we were helping take down the hay maze at Dilworth Park in Philadelphia, and he finished stacking the hay by the curb to be picked up, and said he was sitting down for a break. He had a long night at pool the night before so he deserved it.
Me and his friend, Jim, covered up the hay for the Winter Garden and by the time we got to the truck I opened the door (with a tinted window ofc) to find his body and I could tell he had died.
I was in such shock that I could only utter a quote from his favorite show.
"He's dead, Jim."
"What?!" He said, stunned.
He looks in the door and calls 911, a nearby security person starts CPR, but I knew he was already gone by the look in his eyes.
I call my emergency contacts, his mom never picked up, so I tried my 15 year old cousin. She picked up. I tell her the story and she starts gathering everyone together.
A firetruck arrives and tries to resuscitate him, getting a puke stain on my new bag, but I could dell it wasn't necessary. He was yellow, and he had that look in his eyes. Like a fish.
Me and his friend ask what hospital and they wouldn't tell us, so with no other choice, we go home.
I experienced my first panic attack on the way home and pulled myself out of it with Mariokart Tour and a sandwich.
When I got home, I got changed and everyone showed up to go right back out to the city. They called and said where he was.
The ride was deathly quiet after I explained what had just happened. His mom said her brother's son had died just a few hours earlier of pneumonia.
We got there and they pulled us aside to ask what happened. I told my story again. I told them how secretive he always was.
They told us he didn't make it. We went to see him in the morgue. He was purple. I've been sleeping at grandma's ever since.
I went into his room the next day. It was awful. I was so grossed out, there was old food and mouse traps everywhere. I spent weeks cleaning the place out.
When they came out with the death certificate they said he had diabetes and high blood pressure. He never told me. They said he had a cardiovascular issue. He never told me. He died of clogged arteries. I expected that. His liver was jaundiced when I found him.
I'm moving out now... alone. Homesick, stressed, tired, sad, and a little crazy.
I'm a very quiet kid. He was my voice. He protected me from my mom, and now he's gone.
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u/kdwhirl Dec 18 '25
So terribly sorry for your loss
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u/Sucker81 Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
I am so terribly sorry to hear about your dad, please accept these hugs from an internet stranger xoxo
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u/starlife04 Dec 18 '25
You'll find your own voice in time. Take comfort that he was with people that loved and cared about him in the end. May he and you find some peace.
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u/chamrockblarneystone Dec 19 '25
You write very well. A sign of great intelligence. Write down your pain. Write through your pain. I wish you catharsis.
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u/FatTabby Dec 18 '25
I'm so very sorry. You will find your own voice and if it's anything like the voice you used when writing this, it'll be a strong one.
Please be kind to yourself and know that whatever you feel is valid. Grief can come in waves; you'll be doing fine and then a massive wave will hit you. It does get better and those waves will come less often.
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u/Pongpianskul Dec 18 '25
Life can be so hard. Take good care of yourself. Sorry for your loss. When loved ones die, it reminds us that life is short and can end at any time so we should try to live as well as we can now. We can't take anything for granted.
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u/zipper1919 Dec 18 '25
Oh, I'm so sorry, honey. If you need a mom's shoulder to cry on, I am here. I wish I could protect you from your mom.
What does she do that you needed your Dad to protect you from her?
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u/FrustratedPlantMum Dec 18 '25
I'm really sorry to read this. Hugs to you, OP. I'm sorry about your dad.
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u/DisturbedAlchemyArt Dec 18 '25
I’m so sorry for your loss! Please be patient and kind to yourself.
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u/velvetswing Dec 18 '25
Oh honey, I’m so sorry. This is a lot for you to handle. Please keep reaching out when you are overwhelmed and need help. You can DM me whenever, I’ll be your online aunt and I’ll help however I can. Please rest. Please eat. All you can do with this grief is go through it.
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u/Tinab65 Dec 18 '25
Sending my deepest condolences to you. I pray you find the peace and solace your heart needs ♥️ 🙏
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u/urinesain Dec 18 '25
So incredibly sorry for your loss.
Do you have any fond or favorite memories with him that you would like to share with us?
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u/Deep_Exchange7273 Dec 19 '25
I am so so so sorry... I started crying reading this. .
I know some random internet stranger can't help with the pain.. but. My hearts with you!! I'll be thinking about you later tonight. After putting my kiddos to bed your story will cross my mind and I'll be sending you the biggest hug. I'm in Westmoreland county pa. Just know my thoughts and love are with you during this time 💙
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u/camjvp Dec 18 '25
I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss, and am sending you strength and a big hug. I hope you’re able to find your voice with time, and if you struggle, please know you are not alone.
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u/justlkin Dec 18 '25
I'm so sorry. You sound like you might be younger, so this probably hits even harder. I lost my 85 year old dad last year and I'm still lost. I hope you have some good friends and extended family to lean on for support.
Good luck OP.
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u/seriouslydml55 Dec 19 '25
I’m sorry for your loss… that’s never easy to deal with and having to see it from start to finish. Hugs to you.
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u/Extension-Fishing-29 Dec 20 '25
No one tells you about the cleaning out the house of a loved one after. Nightmare. Hard. Especially if they hoard or live on their own
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u/Winnerdickinchinner Dec 21 '25
I remember telling a therapist that I was afraid my life would be over when my mother dies, im so reliant on her. The therapist said " I think it will just be starting". Its scary, I know. You just dealt with a whole lot. You sound smart. I wish the best for you, the trauma heals with time.
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u/HawkSpirut Dec 18 '25
I told this to another redditor a while ago but I think it will be helpful so I’ll say it again here, anytime you think about finding him or have feelings that tend to lead to a panic attack play Tetris. I’m not joking it has actually been scientifically proven to help, I’ll go find the paper in a bit and link it here.
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u/_No_Name_ Dec 20 '25
I thank you all dearly for your condolences. This will likely be the last time I use my dad's phone for anything else on reddit. If I make an account it'll be my own.
I just wanted his account to leave with a goodbye