Expecting a baby has to be one of the best feelings in the world. Just thinking of the happy times that follow with the birth of that bundle of joy causes excitement at the parents-to-be. Her pregnancy was developing great throughout the whole time, but then, all of a sudden, that changed. Baby Noah’s umbilical cord become pinched in the womb, and his life ended before it even started!

Watts couldn’t get over the sadness. Although her baby didn’t make it, she wasn’t ready to part with the crib she bought for him, and keeping it home was a reminder of the tragedy that struck her.She was kind of hesitant,” Gerald Kumpula recalled. “I knew that maybe she didn’t want to sell it, but yet, she did.” Kumpula lived a few miles away and had a workshop on the outskirt of Cokato.

He was interested in buying the crib when he saw it at the Watts family garage sale, even though it wasn’t on sale. “I hesitated when he asked if I was selling that, that he made benches,” Watts admitted. Kumpulas were unaware of the significance of the crib at the time. “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 he passed away in July,” Watts explained.

Kumpulas was aware that the crib belonged to the Watts family, so after transforming it, he decided to return it to them. “I burst into tears right away,” Watts said. Kumpulas’ crib bench serves as a reminder of the sad times, but it also serves as a symbol of comfort for the bereaved parents.