Grieving Mom Searches For Lost Necklace Of Late Son's Thumbprint

ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park mother experiencing her first Christmas since her son's death was devastated earlier this week, when she realized she'd lost a treasured memento tied to his memory.

The necklace–a heart pendant on a gold chain—holds the thumbprint of her 1.5-year-old son Christopher, along with a ruby birthstone. Her son died in April 2022, after more than a year battling brain cancer. His mother Carla lost the necklace Tuesday, Dec. 27, while running an errand in Orland Park, or while on a run—she's not sure which. She's since scoured the store she was in, and re-traced the steps she took on her run, with no luck.

Her sister took to social media to help find the beloved necklace.

"This has been a very hard year losing my nephew, and that necklace is something my sister wears every single day," her sister Haley wrote on social media.

Carla went on a run in Ishnala subdivision in Palos Heights, and then shopping at Savers in Orland Park, 15625 S 94th Ave. Somewhere in those stops, the necklace was lost.

"She's devastated," said the girls' aunt, Nicole Quinn.

The necklace is a treasured connection to her son, who Quinn remembers as "just a happy little boy." He was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 10 months old, and still, he was a joyful child.

"Up until the end, just a happy little fella," Quinn said.

The family's grief has been heavy during the holidays, she said. While the couple has since had another child, it is their first holiday season without their son.

"It’s a terrible time, compounded by the holiday—that’s the catch," she said. "This could be the worst possible time that this could happen."

Some on social media have suggested they contact the company that created the necklace and ask them to make another. That would be expensive, the family said. They're offering an as-of-yet unspecified reward for the return of the original necklace, a more affordable option than having it re-made.

The necklace being back with Carla would mean so much to her and her family, her aunt said.

"It would mean that Carla will smile," Quinn said, "because she’s not doing too much of that. She hasn’t been doing that too much now."

If you find the necklace, please call (312)882-5368.