A dad is frantically trying to find his daughter's teddy bear that contains a recording of her late mum's heartbeat.
WATE-TV reported that a four-year-old Tennesee girl's toy was accidentally donated to Goodwill, one of the only things she has left of her deceased mother.
Tylor Kennedy told the outlet that his daughter's mum had gifted her with the special Build-A-Bear after the death.
“My daughter’s mom passed away and her grandma made her bear with her mom’s heartbeat in it,” said Kennedy.
Advert
He added that when you squeeze the bear's paw, you can hear a recording of his late wife's heartbeat.
Somehow, the sentimental toy ended up in a donation bag dropped off at a Good Will store in Tazewell.
“Please, if y’all find it or see anybody that has one, just check or turn it into and I believe that somebody will get a reward if they dropped it off. I mean I know they’ll get their money back for sure,” added Kennedy.
While calls and messages have been made to the store about the bear being spotted nationwide, the store manager believes a resident bought the toy, and it may still be in Claiborne County.
"They didn't realise it was in there until they went to get the bear," Cindy Dodson, a representative for Goodwill Industries-Knoxville told PEOPLE.
"And it had already been sold by the time they came back to the store to see if it was there.
"When items come in, our staff automatically want to get them out on the floor," said Dodson.
She said that, unfortunately, employees have 'no way of knowing if an item was donated by mistake or if it had a sentimental value'.
Dodson added that Build-A-Bears sell like hotcakes as the toy is 'so recognisable'.
She continued: "If you see a Build-a-Bear at a thrift store, a lot of people will grab it. They're one of a kind."
A sign has been placed outside the store asking for the bear's return.
"We are in search of a tie-died Build-A-Bear that was accidentally donated. This is the only thing of a departed mother that a little girl has. PLEASE, if you have it, return it to this store, so we can reunite them. You will be reimbursed. This bear has the mother's heartbeat in it," the letter read.
Charisa Bossinakis