Warning: This article contains details of miscarriage and infant death which may be distressing to some readers.
The internet is reeling after reading an exchange between a heartbroken mother who suffered a stillbirth, and her 'friend' asking her to return the baby gifts she gave her.
In a Facebook post which was subsequently shared to Reddit, the mother wrote that her friend "bought some beautiful gifts" for her baby Benjamin who tragically didn't survive his birth at 29 weeks, including a soft fleece blanket, some toys and some clothes.
"I didn't ask for these things, as I said, they were gifts."
A week later the anonymous 'friend' allegedly messaged the mother asking if her son used or touched the things she bought because if not, she wanted them back.
"Hey, hun just wondering if u used the bits n bobs I got for the baby? [sic]" the friend wrote, according to screenshots. "If not I can give them to Laura's little one. Hope your ok and resting up hun?"
She then follows up with another message.
"Let me know hun before I buy more stuff, save a bit of money before [Chrstimas], you know how it is."
The heartbroken mother then responds, letting her friend know she's "not doing ok".
"I can't believe you're asking me at the moment, but yes I still have the things except for the blanket, he will be buried with it because it is warm and I thought it was stunning. I mean... I hope that's OK for you?!?"
The only acceptable answer here is, of course, "yes". But the friend kept going.
"Aww hun, sorry I know its a tough time, I'm sorry," she wrote. "I just needed to know before I spend anymore, is there a chance you have another blanky for him babe?"
"Like you said its nice and warm and Laura's baby can have use of that."
The friend then adds she's been having "a tough time" herself.
"[But] I'm here online and on my phone all the time for u if you need to chat.
"Let me know though about the blanket quickly though."
The woman ignored her friend - until she queried if she could "pop round tomorrow" to pick up the blanket.
"No! Don't come here, please," the grieving mother wrote. "The blanket is in with Benjamin!"
"You can have the rest (of the things) I'll drop them off at yours, don't even think of coming here. My husband is fuming with these messages you are sending me a week after I lose my baby.
"They're packed in a bag... I'll leave them at yours. The blanket is with Benjamin he is having 'use' out of it thank you very much."
It seems insane that the conversation kept going after this point, but as expected, the friend then asked the mother for money to cover the cost of the blanket.
Reddit users couldn't believe the exchange, with the now-deleted post racking up almost 1000 shocked comments.
"Whoa holy balls. Imagine harassing a grieving mother over stuff that amounts to pocket change," one person wrote.
"This is...I just....f**k that bitch and I hope the woman blocks her out of her life entirely. Wow...what a garbage human," another wrote.
“Yeah ... this is hands down the absolute worst thing I’ve ever read on this sub,” a third observed.
