'Miracles happen': Woman seeks owner of bear stuffed with remains she received as gift

A Texas woman's white elephant gift exchange item has led her to find the rightful owners of the gift she received.Rakhi Desai received a stuffed teddy bear during a white elephant exchange at a holiday party earlier in December."The way it ended up, nobody tried to steal this from me," Desai told KTRK-TV.Desai took the gift home and set it aside.But after a few weeks, Desai said she was interested in learning more about the bear and where it came from.The bear, with a stitched-on heart on its chest and the words "Neptune Society" on one of its feet, is not just a stuffed animal.What makes the bear unlike other stuffed bears is that it's filled with someone's remains.Desai realized this when she read what's inscribed on a tag attached to the bear: "I hope I can bring you comfort in whatever life brings your way.""I read that and then I started to feel (the bear), and it's almost like little pebbles or rocks," Desai said. "It seems to be that this bear is very special to somebody and belongs in somebody's family."A friend of Desai's found the bear at an estate sale, but is unsure when or where.Neptune Society doesn't track those who have purchased the bears.A name is listed on the bear's tag. So she's hoping to spread the word to reunite this special bear with its family."Miracles happen every day," Desai said. "So, if there's a positive end to this story, that would be great."

A Texas woman's white elephant gift exchange item has led her to find the rightful owners of the gift she received.

Rakhi Desai received a stuffed teddy bear during a white elephant exchange at a holiday party earlier in December.


"The way it ended up, nobody tried to steal this from me," Desai told KTRK-TV.

Desai took the gift home and set it aside.

But after a few weeks, Desai said she was interested in learning more about the bear and where it came from.

The bear, with a stitched-on heart on its chest and the words "Neptune Society" on one of its feet, is not just a stuffed animal.

What makes the bear unlike other stuffed bears is that it's filled with someone's remains.

Desai realized this when she read what's inscribed on a tag attached to the bear: "I hope I can bring you comfort in whatever life brings your way."

"I read that and then I started to feel (the bear), and it's almost like little pebbles or rocks," Desai said. "It seems to be that this bear is very special to somebody and belongs in somebody's family."

A friend of Desai's found the bear at an estate sale, but is unsure when or where.

Neptune Society doesn't track those who have purchased the bears.

A name is listed on the bear's tag. So she's hoping to spread the word to reunite this special bear with its family.

"Miracles happen every day," Desai said. "So, if there's a positive end to this story, that would be great."