Valerie Watts was eagerly anticipating the birth of her baby, but her joy turned to heartbreak when she gave birth to a stillborn son, Noah. Despite the tragedy, she kept his crib as a painful reminder. During a yard sale, Gerald Kumpula noticed the crib and asked if it was for sale. Watts hesitated but agreed. “When he asked me if I was selling that, that he made benches, I hesitated,” Watts admitted.
Kumpula didn’t know the crib’s history until his wife spoke with Watts and learned about her loss. Moved by the story, Kumpula transformed the crib into a bench and returned it to Watts. “I started crying instantly,” Watts said.
The bench now serves as a symbol of her difficult journey, providing comfort and a connection to her beloved son.