Devastated mum launches campaign to find ‘most valuable thing she owns’

We have seen the power that social media holds in reuniting people with their loved ones and treasured belongings, and now a Texas mum is hoping that this will ring true for her.

Michelle Mantanona, who lost her young son in a road accident, has hit the headlines this week after the campaign she launched to return a precious item went viral.

Michelle’s son Jarrett was killed by a drunk driver four years ago, and in the midst of grief – and not having had the chance to hold him one last time – she created a quilt out of his T-shirts. Describing it as ‘the most valuable thing she owns’, Michelle told local media that she sleeps in it every night.

However, in an upsetting turn of events, Michelle’s treasured quilt went missing recently while on the way to SeaWorld Orlando and Disney World with her husband and their seven-year-old son Jonny, on a trip commemorating Jarrett’s fourth anniversary.

It would appear that the quilt went missing at the airport, with Michelle saying: “Once we got back into the room and settled for bed I started looking through our bags for my blanket and that’s when I realised it was missing. I cried myself to sleep ‘til about 3am.”

Michelle proceeded to contact friends for photos of the quilt, then went on to issue an urgent plea for its return. In a heartwarming turn of events, her plea has gone viral around the world, with US media picking up the story.

While the quilt has not yet been found, Michelle admits that the support and love she has received from so many strangers has touched her heart: “We are beyond shocked that so many people have reached out.”

Let’s hope that there is a happy ending here, and that Michelle’s treasured quilt will be returned.