This grieving mother was shocked when the buyer returned her dead son’s crib during a yard sale a week later.Experiencing great joy when a baby is expected. Soon-to-be parents become excited thinking about the joy that will accompany bringing a new little one.
When Valerie Watts gave birth to a stillborn baby boy, her joy and emotions were devastated. She had been anticipating seeing her baby’s face.Her pregnancy went smoothly until an unexpected turn of events occurred.Watts thought, “I knew all week.” “He was moving less.” I was somewhat anxious.Baby Noah’s umbilical cord got pinched in the womb, causing his life to end before it began.Watts was still feeling very sad. Even though her baby didn’t survive, she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of the crib she had purchased for him. Having it in her home served as a constant reminder of the heartbreaking event.Gerald Kumpula remembered that she seemed unsure. He thought she might not want to sell it, but she did in the end.Kumpula resided a short distance away and had a workshop on the edge of Cokato. Upon seeing the crib at the Watts family’s garage sale, he wanted to purchase it even though it wasn’t for sale.“When he asked me if I was selling that, that he made benches, I hesitated,” Watts admitted.At that time, Kumpulas was not familiar with the story of that crib.“His wife was there looking through my garage sale — at some of the baby clothes — and asked how old my son was since I don’t use the crib anymore, and I told her that he had passed in July,” Watts explained.Kumpulas recognized the crib as belonging to the Watts family, so he returned it after making some changes.“I started crying instantly,” Watts said.The bench made from the crib by Kumpulas serves as a reminder of difficult times, yet it also provides solace for the grieving parents.
