Mom Delighted By Unexpected Gift Following The Sale Of Baby Crib

They were able to find a baby crib they could easily repurpose. However, little did they know that the crib they were eyeing had a troubling history. Fortunately, the couple’s positive vibe managed to turn the situation around in the most wonderful way. Read on and find out how complete strangers changed a devastated mother’s life for the better.

Despite Gerald’s age of 75 years old, he was eager to continue the regular activities he used to do in his younger years. He didn’t want anything to stop him from enjoying the remaining years of his life. He was also a diligent up-cycler who had the habit of repurposing second-hand furniture. 

Gerald was also on the lookout for old furniture he could repurpose into something new. Meanwhile, Lorene loved getting to know the people in their community. The garage sale was the perfect event where they could both enjoy themselves. But when they decided to pay a visit, the two had no clue about the tragedy they would soon learn. 

Gerald and Lorene initially thought they would have no use for the items available in the sale. Clearly, they didn’t need any children’s furniture in their home. But Gerald took a second look at the crib and saw its potential. He immediately had an idea of how he could convert it. Little did he know there was a sad backstory to why the woman was putting the crib up for sale.

However, this situation was totally different. Though nothing was different at first look, things started to unravel upon closer inspection. It was nothing the Kumpulas ever expected. 

Still, Gerald was considering it for a possible DIY project. When he asked the seller for specific details about the crib, he could not understand why she was reluctant to offer basic information. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The seller seemed not to want to sell it, yet she also gave the impression she wanted to.

It was during the drive that he learned about the significance of the crib to the seller.  Apparently, his wife Lorene was able to ask the story behind the item. It was at this time that Gerald understood the reason why the seller was initially reluctant to sell it. It was a sad reason indeed.

Lorene innocently asked the seller how old her little boy was. The question was apt since the seller was now selling baby clothes her child no longer needed. But Lorene was in for a surprise. The seller had no choice but to tell her heartbreaking story. 

Lorene was shocked. The seller was offering items for sale that belonged to her infant son. Though the woman’s grief was palpable, she went on to share the entire story of what happened. Lorene could not believe what she was hearing.

She was more than excited to have a new bundle of joy in her home. Valerie was ready to give the baby a cozy environment. She and her fiancé and their daughter wanted to make sure there would be no hitches once their bouncing baby boy arrived.

They even had a name for their would-be son. They named their unborn child Noah. At first, everything was going smoothly. Her pregnancy was deemed by doctors as healthy. However, it was during the final term that she started to notice a few issues.

Valerie was clearly concerned about her baby’s lack of movement. However, she knew she was a mere week away from delivery. She also had little time available to go to the doctor. She tried to dismiss her fears and went on with her life feeling hopeful that everything would turn out alright.

She could no longer hide her nervousness. She discussed her fears with her partner Jimi. Both of them eventually agreed to wait until she delivered the baby. The couple did their best to hope for the best. After all, it was the least they could do during the remaining days prior to her giving birth. 

At last, Valerie and her fiancé could finally see their adorable bundle of joy. Alas, they were given heart-wrenching news. What they learned contributed to the unexpected reason why Valerie had to sell baby Noah’s crib to the couple.

Valerie and Jimi were extremely devastated. They didn’t expect they would be holding the lifeless body of baby Noah in their arms nine months after waiting for him to come out. Their sadness was heartbreaking. 

Apparently, the baby’s umbilical cord managed to get tangled or was constricted in some way at a certain point during the pregnancy’s final term. This explained the absence of movement Valerie felt during the last days of her carrying Noah. 

Though such an occurrence is extremely rare, accidents in relation to the umbilical cord do happen. According to data from the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network, only 10% of recorded stillbirths were due to umbilical cord related accidents inside the womb. 

Valerie didn’t want to let go of all the unused baby supplies she kept. It was her only way of dealing with the loss. She still wanted a part of Noah with her, and the baby items were one way for her to be with him. Still, she knew that holding onto them forever was not possible.

Though she still felt emotionally attached to the baby items, she had to move on. Noah’s belongings still held a special place in her heart. The crib was especially difficult to part with. But she knew it was the best thing to do. It was her reluctance that Gerald sensed right away when he asked Valerie about the crib. At that time, he had no idea of the purpose of the garage sale Valerie set up.

She somehow felt at ease when she learned that Gerald would repurpose the crib into another piece of furniture, highly likely a headboard. Valerie felt she was going to gain closure from her pain and grief as the crib would be converted to “something nice.”

The first granddaughter Gerald and Lorene ever had was stillborn. It was many moons ago when they also held their grandchild in their arms. They also grieved for the life their grandkid would have led. Though Gerald and Lorene have many grandchildren now, they still remember the pain of losing a grandchild. 

Gerald finally decided to convert the crib into something that Valerie would find useful. He no longer wanted to use the crib for his DIY project. However, he still had no solid idea of what he should make that would help ease Valarie’s grief.

In the interview he had with TODAY, he explained how an unused crib would only serve as a sad reminder of what could have been. He then stated that a bench would actually function as a symbol to honor a memory. 

Instead, Gerald removed the crib’s beans and converted them to become the chair’s backing. Then, he utilized the scalloped edges of the crib to highlight or accentuate the bottom portion of the chair. Though the end result would only allow it to fit a single person, it was still large enough to make a positive impact.

In its place was a memorial bench. It was a pleasant gift from very kind strangers. Valerie could no longer hide her tears. The instant she saw how Gerald converted the crib to a bench, she couldn’t help but express how beautiful it was. The Kumpulas’ generosity restored Valerie’s belief that kind people still existed in the world.

Valerie expressed how she was joyfully overwhelmed by the gift she received from the couple. She was more than happy that the crib was not sitting unused in an empty room. She could now sit on the bench, hold her son’s toys, and think about him.

In the interview Gerald had with TODAY, he described how he only wanted to do something nice for someone. He also wanted to help. Clearly, Gerald’s selfless intent helped the Watts family to heal and move on from the loss of their baby Noah. 

Some even expressed their opinion on what Gerald did. According to Amy Vickers, a business owner who converts wedding gowns to “angel gowns” for would-be mothers who have lost their babies, the bench was important for Valerie’s healing. Vickers believed that it didn’t take away the hurt the family felt, but it served as a reminder that the life of their baby meant something.

For the family, the bench is a special place where they can sit and stay silent while connecting to Noah. Valerie’s daughter, seven-year-old Nevaeh, also uses the bench as it is perfectly sized for her use. It is low enough for her height and small enough for her size. 

The Stir’s Maressa Brown believes that Valerie’s story serves as a reminder of the sufferings of many women who are similarly struggling silently. Brown advocates that they, too, deserve much-needed support. She added that the crib bench could provide hope to other families who have gone through the same thing. Could there be more crib benches in the future?

The bench still gives her emotional comfort. Valerie believes that every time she sits on the bench, she can feel Noah’s presence. She described it as a feeling of peace, as if “everything is going to be okay.”