Family Surprises Grandmother with a Way to Hear Her Late Father's Voice One More Time (Exclusive)
A viral TikTok captures Asunción Estevan Chico hearing her dad's voice after 30 years. "I recognized it immediately," she says
Courtesy of Irene Patón; Irene Patón/TikTok
Asunción Estevan Chico and her father Blas EstevanIn a heartwarming TikTok, a grandmother named Asunción Estevan Chico was surprised by her family with recordings of her father signing, which she hadn't heard in 30 years
This emotional "reunion" brought back cherished memories and deepened her connection with her family
The video, which has gone viral, was not only an important moment for Asunción, but for her granddaughter Irene Patón Reig, who captured the touching clip
In a touching moment on TikTok, Asunción Estevan Chico hears her late father’s voice for the first time in 30 years.
The emotional reunion of sorts was captured by her granddaughter Irene Patón Reig, allowing the world to see Asunción shedding tears after hearing his voice. “When I heard his voice, I recognized it immediately,” Asunción exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I put my hand on my heart and said, ‘That’s my father.' ”
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Asunción recalls, as the moment was a surprise. “I felt immense joy, excitement, and the urge to cry, thinking I would never hear him again in my life.”
The surprise came when Irene’s mother discovered an old tape labeled with the name "Blas Estevan" while going through Asunción’s belongings. With the help of a tape recorder brought from Germany, the family was able to listen to the recording.
Asunción’s father, Blas Estevan, was remembered as a kind and loving person who had a passion for music and poetry. “He cared deeply for all of us and always loved dedicating songs and poetry to us," Asunción remembers.
Her favorite memory of him is from her childhood, when he would carry her on his shoulders as they walked along the beach in Alicante, Spain.
Courtesy of Irene Patón
L-R: Asunción's sister Irma, Blas Estevan, Ángeles Chico and Asunción Estevan ChicoThe tape contained recordings of Blas singing, including the song “A Flor de Piel” by Julio Iglesias, which was a tune he often sang to his family. As soon as Asunción heard it, she began singing along, transported back to those cherished memories.
For Irene, who had never heard her great-grandfather’s voice before, the moment was equally moving. “I listened to the tape before my grandmother did, and I was completely shocked because I had no idea it existed,” she tells PEOPLE. “I loved hearing my great-grandfather sing, and I knew my grandmother would love the surprise. I cried with her when I saw how emotional she was.”
The surprise sparked a flood of memories and stories, prompting Asunción to share tales of her childhood, speaking of her father’s strong bond to music and poetry. She even has a notebook filled with his notes.
“They told me they had a surprise for me, and I told them I didn’t want any surprises!” Asunción says with a laugh. “But when I found out what it was, I told them they had given me the greatest gift of my life.”
The viral TikTok clip resonated with many people, as they’ve drawn comparisons between Asunción and Mamá Coco from the Disney movie Coco. The family, who hadn’t seen the movie before, has since watched it twice and loved it.
Courtesy of Irene Patón
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“Many people say it’s the most beautiful video they’ve ever seen,” Irene shares of her TikTok, which has nearly 4 million views and 900,000 likes. “They share their own personal stories and mention that, after watching our video, they now want to record their loved ones’ voices so they never forget them.”
As Irene notes, “Many people say that love doesn’t die when a person is gone — it lives on in the hearts of those who remember them.”
For Asunción and her family, the viral moment has bonded them. “It has been incredibly emotional,” Asunción reflects. “It has brought us even closer together and made me remember my childhood, my parents, and how happy we were.”
Read the original article on People
