{"id":81176,"date":"2022-01-26T00:11:46","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T05:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/?p=81176"},"modified":"2022-01-26T00:11:46","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T05:11:46","slug":"man-surprises-young-mom-with-her-sons-repurposed-crib-and-the-outcome-is-more-than-amazing-t2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/man-surprises-young-mom-with-her-sons-repurposed-crib-and-the-outcome-is-more-than-amazing-t2\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Surprises Young Mom With Her Son\u2019s Repurposed Crib, And The Outcome Is More Than Amazing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Viralscape \/ Buzzfeed<\/p><\/div>\n

Acts of kindness comes in many ways, shapes, and forms. But when they come from complete strangers, there is just something that much more heartwarming since they are doing something out of the complete goodness of their heart. For one woman who had suffered unimaginable loss, she received the utmost generous gift that anyone could give her to help her deal with her grief. And considering it was from people she didn\u2019t even know made it that much more touching.<\/h6>\n
Find out how one single act of compassion managed to turn this grieving mother\u2019s life around, and how fate has an amazing way of showing up in unexpected places.<\/strong><\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Retired Married Couple<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Top 5<\/p><\/div>\n

Gerald and Lorene Kumpula were an older retired married couple living in Cokato, Minnesota. Like most couples in retirement, they spent time with their family and their many grandkids, as well as enjoying whatever hobbies they have. Gerald, who was 75 at the time, was an avid upcycler, who enjoyed making things with his hand and repurposing secondhand furniture during his free time.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Going To A Garage Sale<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Moneyning<\/p><\/div>\n

It was during spring time, 2014, when the couple heard about an ongoing garage sale around their area, which they decided to go check out. Considering that he was always up for a new project to keep himself busy, he was hoping to find something that he could start working on. Little did he know that what he was about to discover was going to become a life changing experience for a woman he didn\u2019t even know, as well as for himself.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Selling Mostly Baby Clothes<\/h2>\n
\"\"

School of Decorating<\/p><\/div>\n

When they couple arrived at the garage sale, they met the woman who was handling the sale. The first thing that they noticed were the items that were being sold. Aside from a few older household items, most of the things were baby\u2019s things like baby clothes, children\u2019s toys and other items, including a crib that looked like it was still in great condition. And while selling used baby stuff was nothing new, there was something a bit strange about the entire situation, they just couldn\u2019t put their finger on it.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Buying the Crib<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Buzzfeed<\/p><\/div>\n

Gerald didn\u2019t need any baby clothes and toys since his grandkids were already older or had enough stuff. But he knew that the crib was something that he could repurpose into something new, although he wasn\u2019t exactly sure yet what he wanted to make with it. It happened to be the biggest piece of furniture she was selling, and he knew that he could come up with something. But when he asked her about it, he got the feeling that it wasn\u2019t actually something she wanted to let go of just yet.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

She Sold It Anyway<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Christianity Today<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Gerald, \u201cShe was kind of hesitant, I knew that maybe she didn\u2019t want to sell it. Yet she did.\u201d He managed to buy the crib for just $2, an incredibly low price for something that obviously meant a lot to her. But he couldn\u2019t have known just how much pain that single piece of furniture meant to her. That was until his wife, Lorene, shared a conversation that she had with the young woman, one that would break his heart, and actually one that he could understand well.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

They Had a Chat<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Buzzfeed<\/p><\/div>\n

During the time that Gerald was looking at the items for sale and saw the crib, Lorene had been checking out the baby clothes and other items that the woman was selling. This is when Lorene decided to ask the lady how old her son was, thinking he was older already since she was selling his old baby clothes. But the answer Lorene received wasn\u2019t the one she was expecting at all. In fact, it was one that would make her heart hurt for the young woman.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Her Son Had Died<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Healthline<\/p><\/div>\n

In response to Lorene\u2019s query, the woman said, \u201cHe passed away in July.\u201d Apparently, she was selling the clothes of her baby not because he had outgrown them, but because he had sadly passed away. Apparently, the woman, her soon-to-be husband, and her seven-year-old daughter were all reeling from the death of her son, and were still in the process of grieving over his death. Yet despite the pain, she decided to tell Lorene what had happened.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

So Many Plans<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Facebook<\/p><\/div>\n

The woman was just 28 years old, and her name was Valarie Watts. She had gotten engaged and pregnant in the same year with her fianc\u00e9, Jimi, and she also had a seven-year old daughter named Neveah. They had decided to wait for the baby\u2019s arrival before having the wedding. The family was incredibly excited and completely prepared for Noah, which was what they named him. They didn\u2019t think that anything bad could happen, but sadly, they were wrong.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Feeling Something Different<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Toii<\/p><\/div>\n

Although Valarie\u2019s pregnancy was pretty normal throughout most of her first and second trimester, when she got closer to the third, things began to change. She noticed that during her final term, the baby seemed different. Noah wasn\u2019t moving as much as he should, considering how big he already was. Valarie shared, \u201cAll week, I knew\u2014he wasn\u2019t moving as much. I was very nervous.\u201d<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

He Was Stillborn<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Wallpaper Flare<\/p><\/div>\n

Considering she was just a week away from her due date, she and her fianc\u00e9 Jimi decided that they could wait until the baby was set to come out. Finally on July 22, 2013, Valarie went into labor. But after a long, difficult labor, she would be whisked into the operating room to go through a cesarean section. But when the baby was finally born he had no heartbeat, he was stillborn.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

They Were Completely Heartbroken<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Wedding Wire<\/p><\/div>\n

The couple was completely heartbroken and inconsolable, having to hold their dead baby instead of a healthy, alive one. According to the doctors, towards the end of Valarie\u2019s pregnancy, there was a chance that either the baby\u2019s umbilical cord tangled or got constricted at some point before he was set to be born. Since the umbilical cord is the baby\u2019s so-called life line \u2013 meaning it provides all the important nutrients and oxygen needed by the baby, if it gets blocked in one way or another, the baby can\u2019t survive.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

It Was Such A Devastating Loss<\/h2>\n
\"\"

iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

Noah\u2019s loss was devastating, and it was completely traumatic for all of them as well. They grieved the loss of their son, and Valarie couldn\u2019t bring herself to let go of her son\u2019s things. She had so many baby items, clothes, shoes, supplies, his crib, so many things that reminded her of her stillborn baby. But as time passed, she knew she couldn\u2019t keep them forever. So finally, she mustered the strength to finally let them go.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Finally Deciding To Have a Garage Sale<\/h2>\n
\"\"

iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

By May 2014, she had decided that it was time to sell Noah\u2019s belongings. Although she was still emotionally attached to them, she also knew that it wasn\u2019t doing her any good to keep them, most especially the baby\u2019s crib. Of all his items, it would seem that his crib was the hardest one to let go of, which is probably what Gerald had sensed when he and Lorene had asked about it. But it was probably because of his plan to change it up that made Valarie finally agree to sell it.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

He Was Going to Repurpose It<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Inspire More<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite her hesitations, when Valarie heard that Gerald had a plan to rebuild the crib into something else completely, like possibly a headboard, it kind of felt like the closure she had been looking for with the entire yard sale of Noah\u2019s stuff. She shared with TODAY, \u201cI was a little bit at peace with it because he\u2019d be making something nice.\u201d And after she received the $2 for the unused crib, it was finally out of her home forever, or so she thought.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Lorene Tells Gerald What Happened<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Viralscape<\/p><\/div>\n

Gerald and Lorene bid Valarie goodbye, packed the crib in the car and went on their way. And when they got into the car, Lorene shared Noah\u2019s story with her husband, who couldn\u2019t believe what he was hearing. Aside from feeling complete and utter sympathy for Valarie and her family, he was moved to empathy as well because once upon a time, they knew what it was like to hold a stillborn.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

They Experienced the Same Type of Loss<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Today’s Parent<\/p><\/div>\n

Gerald and Lorene had experienced the same type of loss many years before. Their very first granddaughter was a stillborn as well, so they knew what it felt like to go through what Valarie had gone through. They too, had held their precious grandchild in their arms and held their weeping daughter as they mourned the loss of their loved one. And despite having many grandchildren afterwards, it didn\u2019t take away from the loss or the pain they felt all those years before.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Doing Something Special<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Top 5<\/p><\/div>\n

After knowing what Valarie had gone through, the Kumpulas knew that they needed to do something special for the young mom. They thought about how hard it was for her to let go of the crib, and that maybe they could do something to help her deal with her grief since they understood it completely. Gerald decided then and there that rather than making the crib into something for themselves, he was going to turn it into a special gift for Valarie instead.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Coming Up With A New Idea<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Give It Love<\/p><\/div>\n

Gerald\u2019s original plan was to turn the crib into a headboard, but after deciding that he was going to make it for Valerie instead, a headboard might remind her too much of a crib, which wouldn\u2019t help her and Jimi with their loss. Instead, he decided he was going to transform it into a bench. He told TODAY, \u201cAn unused crib is a sad reminder. A bench is a more of a memorial. It\u2019s part of that sad happening, yet it\u2019s not a reminder like a crib would be, an empty crib.\u201d<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Making A Bench<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Inspire More<\/p><\/div>\n

Once he decided on what he was going to make, Gerald started his project with the intention of not changing it completely. He didn\u2019t want it to be unrecognizable to Valerie. He chose to keep the original white paint, while taking the bars of the crib to make it into the backrest of the chair. He also took the scalloped edges to make the bottom part of the seat in order to accent the chair. And while he could only make it big enough for one person, he knew that it was enough for his purpose.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

One Week Later<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Give It Love<\/p><\/div>\n

The project took one week to accomplish, but the Kumpula couple was incredibly excited to bring it back to Valarie and show her what Gerald had done. She had no idea that they had made it into a special memorial bench for them, believing that they had just repurposed it for themselves. But from the kindness of their hearts, strangers no less, the couple was going to give her a priceless gift, more so because it was done purely out of compassion and understanding of what a young grieving mother had gone through with the loss of her infant son.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

An Unexpected Gift<\/h2>\n
\"\"

KMSP<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Kumpulas showed up on her doorstep one week later, Valarie couldn\u2019t believe what she was seeing. Sitting in front of her was an unexpected gift made from her son\u2019s crib, and she just couldn\u2019t hold back her tears. According to TODAY.com, she said, \u201c[When I saw it] I thought, \u2018There\u2019s still kind people out there.\u201d It was so surprising and unanticipated, making it that much sweeter and thoughtful.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Overwhelmed With Joy<\/h2>\n
\"\"

NBC News<\/p><\/div>\n

Although you could tell that the newly repurposed bench was made from the crib, it was no longer the empty crib that Valarie could see. Rather than it being a piece of furniture left to rot, instead, it was now a beautiful place for her to honor her son\u2019s memory. Valarie shared, \u201cI\u2019m overwhelmed with joy that it\u2019s not just sitting somewhere unused. Now I can sit in it, hold his bear, think about him if I need to.\u201d<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Doing Something Good<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Facebook<\/p><\/div>\n

Feeling like she wanted to return the favor, Valarie offered to pay Gerald back for what he had paid for the crib. But both he and his wife refused to accept it, saying that he did the project precisely because he wanted to do something nice for her. He told TODAY, \u201cIt\u2019s just nice to be able to do something for someone. It\u2019s nice to help people.\u201d And more than help, he has given Valarie a wonderful place to sit and remember her beloved baby whenever she feels like it.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Beautiful Memories<\/h2>\n
\"\"

KMSP<\/p><\/div>\n

Now, the bench that Gerald lovingly made for the Watts sits in their living room, decorated with Noah\u2019s teddy bear and blanket. And right beside it on a bookshelf are the baby\u2019s photo, handprints, footprints, and his ashes as well. Now, the whole family can sit on the chair and remember Noah whenever they want, honoring his memory and remembering him with fondness, any time of the day or night.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Going Viral<\/h2>\n
\"\"

KMSP<\/p><\/div>\n

Although it wasn\u2019t his intention, Gerald\u2019s act of kindness were so incredible that the story ended up becoming headline news, and eventually the story went viral. A variety of media outlets like FOX, TODAY and Newsner reported the story, sharing how one couple\u2019s actions changed a grieving family\u2019s life forever. It was so inspiring, and people everywhere were incredibly touched when they heard about the story. It even brought to mind other stories of people that actually do the same.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Angel Gowns<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Precious Angel Gowns<\/p><\/div>\n

In fact, one such woman, Amy Vickers, actually turns wedding gowns into what they call \u201cangel gowns\u201d for women that have also lost babies. Vickers also spoke with Huffpost, explaining to the publication why the bench has so much meaning, saying, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take the hurt away from them, but it just lets them know that we feel like their baby\u2019s life means something.\u201d Gerald also shared, \u201cAn unused crib is sad reminder. A bench is more of a memorial. It\u2019s part of that sad something, yet it\u2019s not a reminder like a crib would be, an empty crib.\u201d<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Bringing Awareness to Stillbirth<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Saying Goodbye<\/p><\/div>\n

Valarie and Noah\u2019s story also brought forth the importance of awareness about stillbirth, considering one in every 160 births end in stillbirths. Within the United States alone, at least 24,000 babies are stillborn each and every year. According to the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network, umbilical cord accidents only make up 10% of stillbirths, but they are a possibility. Other issues include high blood pressure, placenta issues, infections, and birth defects to name a few others.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Supporting Mother\u2019s Whom Have Lost<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Medicine Net<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Maressa Brown on stillbirth, as she wrote on The Stir, \u201cit\u2019s a reminder that other women in her shoes may be suffering far too silently and deserve support.\u201d She shares that not only is Valarie\u2019s story imperative to share with others, but it also offers other families that have gone through similar instances some hope, where they may also possibly turn their unused cribs into benches as well, or other types of memorabilia to help them deal with their loss and grief.<\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Comforted By His Presence<\/h2>\n
\"\"

NBC News<\/p><\/div>\n

Since their loss, Valarie, Jimi and Neveah, Valarie\u2019s daughter, now feel renewed hope. The couple finally got married in Autumn of 2014, and aside from caring for her daughter, Valarie also works as a babysitter from time to time. She said, \u201cIn a way, when I\u2019m sitting in [the bench], I feel comforted by his presence, even though he\u2019s not here. It\u2019s like a peaceful, it\u2019s-OK type of feeling. When I feel down, I can sit on the bench and I feel OK, everything\u2019s going to be OK.\u201d She may never get over the loss of her son, but she now has a better way of dealing with the grief, all thanks to the kindness of strangers.<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts of kindness comes in many ways, shapes, and forms. But when they come from complete strangers, there is just something that much more heartwarming since they are doing something out of the complete goodness of their heart. For one woman who had suffered unimaginable loss, she received the utmost generous gift that anyone could give her to help her deal with her grief. And considering it was from people she didn\u2019t even know made it that much more touching. Find out how one single act of compassion managed to turn this grieving mother\u2019s life around, and how fate has <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":81177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[35238,35239,35236,35240,1757,483,35237,2232,35242,35241],"yst_prominent_words":[9371,17662,31221,9915,9047],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81176"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81214,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81176\/revisions\/81214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81176"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awesomejelly.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=81176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}