Little girl desperately searching for teddy bear that contains recording of her late mum's heartbeat
The four-year-old is desperate to get her toy bear back
Dominic Smithers
A young girl is desperately searching for a teddy bear that contains a recording of her late mother's heartbeat.
The four-year-old's dad has put out a plea after he accidentally donated the bear to a Goodwill store in New Tazewell, Tennessee, last week.
Sadly, it was only when she asked her dad if she could bring it to school that he realised what he had done.
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But it was too late, by the time he returned to the store, it had already gone.
Speaking to Today, a spokesperson for Goodwill said: "It was a complete mistake. When the father came back and saw that it was sold, his heart sank.
“Unfortunately our staff don’t know if something is donated by mistake or has sentimental value.
“We’re doing our best to get the word out that this little girl would like her teddy bear back, and we’re hopeful that she will.”
A state-side search has since been launched to reunite the young girl with her beloved toy.
Sharing a photo of a similar 'Build-A-Bear' type toy, Goodwill urged people to come forward if they were the ones who picked it up.
The post reads: "Please help our local donor. They accidentally donated a bear that was very sentimental to them and it was sold in our store before they realized it ... we would love to see them reunited."
Since it went up, a number of people have been in touch with the store to see if they had managed to locate the bear.
"It's been amazing to see customers, including regulars, ask staff about the teddy bear," Dodson added.
“The community where the store is, it’s very tight, very friendly, and I’m sure the word is getting out.
“But this is a rural area where not everyone has access to computers or social media, so we appreciate everyone’s help in letting folks know that this little girl is missing her very special teddy bear.”
A man who said he was the little girl's father told a local news station that her grandmother made the bear for her after her mum died.
"My daughter’s mom passed away and her grandma made her bear with her mom’s heartbeat in it," he said.
“Please, if y’all find it or see anybody that has one, just check or turn it into Tazewell and I believe that somebody will get a reward if they dropped it off.
"I know they’ll get their money back for sure."