Can you believe it? Lost diamond wedding ring returns to owner 13 YEARS after being flushed down the toilet
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Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we have our fair share of unexpected, heartwarming and mind-boggling stories that we've lived through or heard from our community. Today, we have a tale that combines all of those elements - and more.
Picture this scenario: You accidentally flush your beautiful diamond wedding ring down the toilet, only to have it discovered and returned to you a whole 13 years later! Sounds too good to be true, or perhaps the plotline of a Hollywood movie? Think again.
Meet Mary Strand, a 71-year-old woman from Minnesota who faced this very predicament. Married for 46 years to her husband, David, Mary had experienced her fair share of ups and downs.
But nothing could have prepared her for the rollercoaster ride that unfolded when she accidentally flushed her diamond wedding ring down the toilet.
It all began 13 years ago. To celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary, David surprised Mary with a stunning diamond ring. Featuring an impressive large diamond surrounded by 16 smaller stones, it was everything a woman could want in a ring.
Unfortunately, the ring never fit Mary properly - a sign, perhaps, of the misadventure to come.
One fateful day, disaster struck. Mary's precious ring slipped off her finger while she was in the bathroom and was flushed down the toilet before she could react. Heartbroken and wondering if it was gone forever, Mary couldn't possibly have foreseen the miracle that was to await her over a decade later.
Although David owned a sewer and drain cleaning business, he was unable to retrieve the ring despite his best efforts at the time. The couple even contacted municipal workers in an attempt to locate the ring lost within the city's pipes but to no avail.
Fast forward to just a few weeks ago — after 13 long years of believing the ring was gone for good — Mary received a phone call that changed everything. Her diamond wedding ring had been discovered at a water treatment plant just a quarter of a mile (about 500 metres) away from her home.
The incredible discovery was made by three wastewater workers who were repairing a machine when they saw a flash of gold floating in the water.
The ring was in a surprising condition, considering the circumstances: Though four of the smaller diamonds had fallen off and the gold band was smudged, it was still 'absolutely gorgeous', according to Mary.
Credit: Metropolitan Council.
It's evident that fate was on Mary's side when it came to reuniting her with her precious ring. With the help of a week-long public campaign and a neighbourhood message board, Mary's daughter became aware of the found ring and alerted her parents.
And lo and behold, it was indeed Mary's long-lost diamond wedding ring.
Two jewellers involved in confirming the authenticity of the ring likened Mary's luck in being reunited with her beloved jewellery to the chances of winning the lottery. As one of them aptly put it, 'The odds are astronomical.'
Reflecting on the moment she was presented with her ring, Mary said, 'I remember looking at it and flashing back to when he gave it to me. That's how memorable a thing it was.'
And while she joked about having a tendency to lose rings, Mary made it very clear she would make sure this precious token of love never left her sight again. One can only imagine the emotional journey Mary and David experienced during this long and winding adventure.
If there's anything that this magical story teaches us, it's that life is full of surprises - and that sometimes, lost treasures can find their way back home against all odds.
So, the next time you find yourself in a seemingly hopeless situation, remember Mary's tale of patience and luck — and keep your chin up! Who knows, you might just be the protagonist of the next extraordinary story.
Have you ever had a similar experience? Perhaps you've lost something for a considerable time and were pleasantly surprised when it unexpectedly found its way back to you? We would love to hear your stories! Please feel free to share them in the comments section below. We're all eyes and are eager to read!
Picture this scenario: You accidentally flush your beautiful diamond wedding ring down the toilet, only to have it discovered and returned to you a whole 13 years later! Sounds too good to be true, or perhaps the plotline of a Hollywood movie? Think again.
Meet Mary Strand, a 71-year-old woman from Minnesota who faced this very predicament. Married for 46 years to her husband, David, Mary had experienced her fair share of ups and downs.
But nothing could have prepared her for the rollercoaster ride that unfolded when she accidentally flushed her diamond wedding ring down the toilet.
Mary Strand accidentally dropped her ring into the toilet at home 13 years ago. Credit: Pexels/Leah Kelley.
It all began 13 years ago. To celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary, David surprised Mary with a stunning diamond ring. Featuring an impressive large diamond surrounded by 16 smaller stones, it was everything a woman could want in a ring.
Unfortunately, the ring never fit Mary properly - a sign, perhaps, of the misadventure to come.
One fateful day, disaster struck. Mary's precious ring slipped off her finger while she was in the bathroom and was flushed down the toilet before she could react. Heartbroken and wondering if it was gone forever, Mary couldn't possibly have foreseen the miracle that was to await her over a decade later.
Although David owned a sewer and drain cleaning business, he was unable to retrieve the ring despite his best efforts at the time. The couple even contacted municipal workers in an attempt to locate the ring lost within the city's pipes but to no avail.
Fast forward to just a few weeks ago — after 13 long years of believing the ring was gone for good — Mary received a phone call that changed everything. Her diamond wedding ring had been discovered at a water treatment plant just a quarter of a mile (about 500 metres) away from her home.
The incredible discovery was made by three wastewater workers who were repairing a machine when they saw a flash of gold floating in the water.
The ring was in a surprising condition, considering the circumstances: Though four of the smaller diamonds had fallen off and the gold band was smudged, it was still 'absolutely gorgeous', according to Mary.
Credit: Metropolitan Council.
It's evident that fate was on Mary's side when it came to reuniting her with her precious ring. With the help of a week-long public campaign and a neighbourhood message board, Mary's daughter became aware of the found ring and alerted her parents.
And lo and behold, it was indeed Mary's long-lost diamond wedding ring.
Two jewellers involved in confirming the authenticity of the ring likened Mary's luck in being reunited with her beloved jewellery to the chances of winning the lottery. As one of them aptly put it, 'The odds are astronomical.'
Reflecting on the moment she was presented with her ring, Mary said, 'I remember looking at it and flashing back to when he gave it to me. That's how memorable a thing it was.'
And while she joked about having a tendency to lose rings, Mary made it very clear she would make sure this precious token of love never left her sight again. One can only imagine the emotional journey Mary and David experienced during this long and winding adventure.
If there's anything that this magical story teaches us, it's that life is full of surprises - and that sometimes, lost treasures can find their way back home against all odds.
So, the next time you find yourself in a seemingly hopeless situation, remember Mary's tale of patience and luck — and keep your chin up! Who knows, you might just be the protagonist of the next extraordinary story.
Have you ever had a similar experience? Perhaps you've lost something for a considerable time and were pleasantly surprised when it unexpectedly found its way back to you? We would love to hear your stories! Please feel free to share them in the comments section below. We're all eyes and are eager to read!
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