Valerie Watts, like most expectant mothers in their last trimester, was excited to meet her baby, Noah. After nine months of bearing this wonderful newborn boy under her heart, his arrival was eagerly awaited. Valerie, on the other hand, had seen less baby activity in the closing days of her full-term pregnancy. She and her boyfriend, Jimi Hamblin, were hurried to the hospital, where physicians verified the absence of a heartbeat.
They think the umbilical cord got squeezed, denying oxygen to the stillborn infant. Valerie misses her son every day of her life. Valerie staged a garage sale to sell most of Noah’s belongings—clothing, toys, and stuff she’d purchased for his nursery—just nine months after losing him. Noah’s cot was the one item she had not intended to sell. Something inside of her simply couldn’t get rid of the one item that reminded her the most of her late son.
Valerie hesitated when an older guy called Gerald Kampala stopped by her garage sale and requested to purchase the crib. The 75-year-old stated that he is an artisan who creates benches out of used headboards and footboards. Gerald had persuaded Valerie to sell Noah’s crib with a little more coaxing. She only got $2 for it and mentioned something about knowing he’d do something “beautiful” with it bringing her “comfort.”
Meanwhile, Lorene, Gerald’s wife, inquired about the age of her kid after seeing all of the baby stuff for sale. Valerie shared her experience with the elder couple for a few minutes before they parted ways. The Kumpulan, who had FIVETEEN children and scores of grandkids, understood the crib had to be returned to Valerie when they left her garage sale. However, not in the shape of a crib.
The Kumpulas were compelled to give Valerie something unique after suffering her identical anguish many years ago when they held their first granddaughter, who was also a stillborn. Valerie was surprised when the pair returned to her house barely a week later. They’d made a magnificent bench out of the unassembled parts of Noah’s white crib, specifically for the Minnesota parent. “An abandoned crib serves as a melancholy memory,” Gerald said.
“A bench serves as a memorial.” It’s a part of that terrible incident, but it’s not a reminder like an empty crib would be.” Valerie burst into tears right away. To say she was touched by the couple’s generosity would be an understatement. “I’m overjoyed that it’s not simply lying there unused,” Valerie said. “Now I can sit in it, hug his teddy, and think of him whenever I want.”
Gerald’s kind act reassured Valerie that there ARE friendly people in the world. She claims that the bench has helped her cope with Noah’s death. It’s tucked away in a corner beside a bookcase, among the baby’s photographs and footprints, in memory of the boy she can’t wait to see again someday.