Woman Couldn't Believe Her Estranged Father Was Alive When a Doctor Called. But Their Reunion Was Short Lived (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Melissa Gehrig and her father David.Photo:Melissa Gehrig

Melissa Gehrig

After receiving a call from a doctor informing her that her father was near death, Melissa Gehrig flew from Florida to Nevada the next day to reconnect with him.

“When the social worker and the doctor reached out to me, I was so overwhelmed with emotion,” Melissa exclusively tells PEOPLE of the Oct. 28, 2024, phone call. “For years, I thought he had been dead, so it was the moment of ‘Oh, he’s not dead,’ and then the moment of ‘He’s dying.’ It was completely overwhelming.”

Despite the challenges, David never forgot he had a daughter.

When Melissa arrived at the hospital, her reunion with her dad was emotional and life-changing for both of them: David previously refused to eat and seemed to have given up on life, but found a renewed will to live upon seeing his daughter.

Melissa’sTikTokdocumenting their reunion went viral. And the impact of their story extended beyond their personal reunion.

David Gehrig in his earlier years.Melissa Gehrig

Melissa explains, “I can’t tell you how many people have sent me messages thanking me because they have now healed from their parents passing, or they feel like they want to call their parents now, or they have a child that they haven’t talked to in a long time.”

With the support from her husband and family, Melissa made the decision to move David to Florida. On Dec. 4, 2024, Melissa and her husband brought David home.

“It became so easy, you know,“ Melissa reflects on caring for her father. “It was so much more powerful than just simply taking care of him.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

David and Melissa Gehrig.Melissa Gehrig

Melissa’s husband played a crucial role in supporting their newfound family dynamic. “My husband would get up and make my father coffee,” Melissa shares. “We had our bathroom renovated so that we could get him in and out of the shower.”

Despite the initial concerns about caregiving, Melissa ultimately found the experience rewarding. “The uncomfortableness of bathing your naked father was completely gone,” Melissa reflects. “It was more about making sure that he was okay. It was such an honor to give him that care.”

David with Melissa’s husband and kids.Melissa Gehrig

David died on Dec. 15, just 11 days after arriving in Florida. While their time together was short, the impact of their reunion had been profound.

source: people.com