Valarie Watts’ world was shattered when she delivered her stillborn son, Noah, in July. As she navigated the dark waters of grief, she decided to sell most of the baby items she had lovingly prepared for his arrival. However, one item proved too difficult to part with: the white crib.
That was until Gerald Kumpula, a 75-year-old retiree, approached Watts at her garage sale. He asked to buy the crib, explaining that he was a craftsman who transformed old furniture into beautiful benches. Watts, sensing a kindred spirit, agreed to sell it to him for a mere $2.
Little did Watts know that Kumpula’s wife, Lorene, had struck up a conversation with her earlier, and Watts had shared her heartbreaking story. Lorene, in turn, shared it with her husband, and the Kumpulas, who had experienced a similar loss with their own granddaughter, knew they had to return the crib to Watts.
A week later, the Kumpulas delivered a stunning bench to Watts, crafted from the very crib she had sold them. Watts was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “I thought, ‘There’s still kind people out there.'”
The bench now sits in Watts’ living room, a poignant reminder of her son’s brief but profound presence in her life. Watts finds solace in sitting on the bench, holding Noah’s bear, and remembering the precious moments they shared.
Gerald Kumpula’s selfless act has helped Watts cope with her grief, and she is forever grateful. “In a way, when I’m sitting in it, I feel comforted by his presence, even though he’s not here,” she said. “It’s like a peaceful, it’s-OK type feeling. When I feel down, I can sit on the bench and I feel OK, everything’s going to be OK.””
