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Woman who lost 6 children shows Christmas generosity

Posted at 10:17 PM, Dec 24, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-25 00:20:14-05

HERRIMAN, Utah -- Several children will benefit from the generosity of a Herriman couple who are using their personal trials as a source of inspiration for others.

Christa and Wendell Benward donated over 100 presents to children in need this holiday season.

They first decided to sponsor 6 children on an Angel Tree in their local Walmart. The couple spent little on themselves this holiday, even passing on the Ipad they'd planned to buy for themselves.

Christa has lost 6 children. Four were miscarriages, two were delivered, but died from a rare heart defect known as Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome.

On a later trip to the same Walmart, they noticed the Angel Tree had only one name left, so they took his card as well.

The Angel Tree program provides sponsors with each child's "needs" and "wants". The Benward's fulfilled every wish of the 7 kids they sponsored.

They did not seek any publicity for their acts of kindness. Instead, Fox 13 was contacted by Annette Ornelas of Bakersfield, California.

She too lost a child to Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome, and found support from Christa online.