A 10-year-old boy in Missouri turned a routine shopping trip into an unforgettable act of kindness after discovering a lost diamond wedding ring in a Costco parking lot.
Kal Blank, who admits he has “an eye for things that are shiny,” was with his father when he noticed something glimmering on the ground. At first, he was struck by how heavy it felt. “I was like, ‘Why is this so heavy?’ I put it in my pocket, and my pocket was like — whoa — just hanging down,” Kal told local St. Louis station KSDK.
When he later showed the find to his mom, Dr. Kelli Blank, she immediately realized it was something precious. “He drops this ring in my hand, and my hand about hits the floor,” she said. “This is a beautiful ring, and someone is missing this terribly.”
That someone was Mae Pratzel, who had just undergone surgery and lost weight, causing her ring to slip off unnoticed while she was returning her cart at the Manchester, Mo., Costco. The ring, featuring the original diamond from her engagement, had been with her for more than 50 years and had been reset several times over the decades.
“It was one of the most awful feelings,” Mae told KSDK. “We kept saying, ‘It’s a thing, it’s a ring.’ But it was more than that.”
Fortunately, Kal’s discovery would soon return the heirloom to its rightful owner. After calling the Costco to confirm a missing ring had been reported, Kelli prepared to return it — but not before her son added a personal touch.
Kal polished the ring, placed it in a special box his mother had brought from Ireland, and wrote Mae a heartfelt note. “I kind of wanted to keep it ’cause it was pretty and shiny,” he admitted, before adding, “I hope you relax now that you have your ring back.”
Mae drove from Springfield to Manchester to be reunited with her ring, later calling the Blank family to express her gratitude. That conversation revealed unexpected ties: one of Mae’s grandchildren attends school with Kal’s sister, and Kal’s father, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Blank, had professional connections with Mae’s husband, Alan, a retired lawyer.
The Pratzels later visited the Blanks in person, bringing gifts and plenty of gratitude. Mae embraced Kal and told him, “You don’t know how special you are to me!” She also praised his parents, saying, “He is an extremely special kid, and you guys have to be so proud.”
Alan added that Kal’s actions “just restore your faith in humanity.”
For Kal, known in his family as a “finder of things” who keeps a personal collection of coins, rocks, and trinkets, this treasure was different. He was glad to return it, especially since the Pratzels will soon celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in December.
