In the most heartbreaking moments of our lives, some people can break through and truly bring some much-needed comfort.
Valerie Watts was devastated when she gave birth to a stillborn boy. It’s something no expectant mother should have to go through.
As time passed, the Cokato, Minnesota, woman eventually decided to set up a garage sale. She was ready to move forward and had mustered up the courage to get rid of the baby’s things, including his crib.
The grieving mother sold the crib to a man named Gerald and his wife, but little did she know the crib was about to return to her in the most unexpected way.
Gerald learned that Valerie had lost her baby. Instead of keeping the crib, he did something truly incredible.
As it turned out, Gerald is a carpenter. He brought the crib home to his workshop and transformed it into something Valerie could hold onto and cherish for life.
Much to her surprise, Gerald returned to Valerie’s home the following week to present her with his creation, and she broke down sobbing on the spot. The video has been millions of times, and you’re about to see why.
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Meet James Martin, the First Actor With Down Syndrome to Win an Oscar
When James Martin was born, doctors told his parents that he might never speak. However, he did not only learn to speak, but 31 years later, on his birthday, he walked on Hollywood’s biggest stage to collect his Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, An Irish Goodbye. James became the first actor with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award. And, as icing on the cake, the entire audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
James Martin never let his condition hold him back.
James Martin’s father, Ivan Martin, is very proud of his son and revealed that he does everything with great gusto, and he’s very glad that his efforts have paid off.
“He has spent his life pushing the envelope. People are very good at saying, ’You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’… He’s done it, and he does it consistently,” he said.
Martin is the first person with Down syndrome to win not just a BAFTA but an Oscar too, and he’s very proud of himself. “It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do. I do what I can to be funny,” he said.
His girlfriend also supports him and says the win was a magical moment. “It shows to everyone that it’s changing your mindset on how people with disabilities can achieve as much as everyone else can,” she declared.
For the past 10 years, Martin has been working at Starbucks.
His co-workers and manager at Starbucks are very proud of Martin and his acting success, and to support him, good-luck posters were placed in the coffee chain’s city stores.
However, Martin’s dad revealed that despite the fame, he doesn’t see his son quitting his job as a barista anytime soon.
Martin caught the acting bug after he joined the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company for children with learning disabilities.
There, Martin did all types of shows, and he enjoyed every moment spent there. This was a stepping stone for him, as he later managed to land the lead role in Ups and Downs, starring alongside actress Susan Lynch.
Martin then went on to land a role in the series, Marcella, but his role in An Irish Goodbye, which won him both a BAFTA and an Oscar, is his most high-profile role to date.
Preview photo credit MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/East News, An Irish Goodbye / First Flights and co-producers
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