US woman jokingly texts her mom, "did u make it home alive", only to learn that she died in her car
TikTok post by Maureen Branigan has struck a chord with thousands, turning her personal tragedy into a story of love, humour, and grief that has resonated across the platform. Sharing a screenshot of the last text she sent her mum, Maureen’s post has gone viral, garnering over 670,000 views and nearly 900 comments.
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Her story begins on 31 January 2021, a day that started off like any other. Maureen and her mum, Debbie Branigan, spent the evening cooking beef stew, watching TV, and enjoying each other’s company. Later that night, as a snowstorm rolled in, Debbie decided to head home. Her house was just three blocks away, so she grabbed her car keys and left.
Although Debbie was generally healthy, she had medical conditions like type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, which often worried Maureen. To check on her mum after she left, Maureen sent a playful text: “Did u make it home alive lol?” Debbie often joked about slipping and falling in the snow, making the message feel like their usual banter.
When Debbie didn’t reply, Maureen wasn’t immediately concerned. It wasn’t unusual for her mum to go to bed without responding and call back in the morning. Unfortunately, that night turned out to be tragically different.
Later, Maureen’s fiancé noticed Debbie’s car still parked
